The Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. CROMWELL: TUESDAY, APRIL 16.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 127, 16 April 1872, Page 4

The Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. CROMWELL: TUESDAY, APRIL 16.

We suppose there needs no apology for again reverting to our water question, or the steps that have been taken to supply the inhabitants of Cromwell with water for domestic purposes, and a means of safety for life and property in case of lire. It is an unfortunate but undoubted fact that it requires a certain kind of mental and moral training to convince individuals, as well as communities, that a copious supply of pure water is as necessary for 1 health as morality. Cleanliness is not only next to godliness, but the main agent conservative to health. Only "the unwashed" ignore this fact. Given a community ignorant of sanitary science, brought up among the clean livers of the earth, the first requirement sought would be plenty of fresh, clear water. The veriest tyro in bush life makes this a desideratum in j choosing a site for a camping ground; while the location for a to*vn would be considered absurd, were this essential condition neglected. It is a curious fact, but neveitholess a patent one, that with the largest body of fresh wafer in the Colony running past our doorsteps, we have nunc for domestic purposes, and no supply in case of lire. j It has been a standing grievance with our I local inhabitants, and a theme of wonder | to strangers for many years. We an; surI rounded, also, with water that might be j made available for the purposes sought, at | sufficient elevations ; have all the oiganiza-! | tion and means to obtain such an end; i while, beyond the utterance of idle promises, and the waste of the ratepayers' | money, we fail to see any steps taken "that j will supply the lack of which we complain. J It will doubtless be remembered that at our hist municipal election, the platform lonI on which our Mayor succeeded in being elected, was the promise of a copious water supply. Every rat-payer knows bow the 'promise has been kepi. The money belonging to tiie ratepayers has been wilfully and deliberately squandered in the purchase of a water-right for the sum of .-£l2O, that is and will be perfectly useless for the j purpose needed, being insullicient in quantity, uncertain in its supply, and impure. [ When ratepayers are taxed for water, it is only reasonable to imagine they will be content when they have sufficient tor their need, and when the necessity for filtration j can be dispensed with. Municipal institutions are given us as an aid to self government. They are meant to concentrate local authority, and pre-! elude every pot-house politician inflicting bis panacea on the public, it. is considered that as communities we can attend to such small matters as lighting our streets, providing drainage for our cesspools, and water wherewith to cook our food and! \v;ish our bodies and clothes without cal- \ ling on the General or Provincial Government to aid us in so doing. When municipal institutions cannot achieve such a small object as this, (hey can well be dis pensed with. Th?y fail to answer the purpose of their creation, and should be consigned to the limbo of unregistered inventions. It is doubtless flattering to the self-love of some men to occupy the position of Mayor of a Corporation, though the township be small as our own. It may! bo gratifying to sit on a Bench, dispensing punishment and levying fines on the vagrant or drunkard, and learning an inkling of law and justice from the lips of the presiding stipendiary Magistrate while so doing. It may be pleasant to occupy the position of leading man in a township, and write J.P. after one's signature; but it! should not be forgotten that there are duties to fulfil, as well as dignities and pleasures to enjoy. The, man so singled out! by his townsmen for distinction should] look after their well'ire, bo better informed j as to their wants than themselves, ami be j equally anxious for their supply. The position occupied alone implies this, with-! out recurring to promises made when j suffrages were solicited. The man who obtains money under false I pretences is placed in the felon's dock, and i found in board and housen at IltrMa-l jesty's expense, ns not being safe to be at large. Although it is accounted a venial

thing, we consider it equally culpable f an individual to obtain a position by * representation, and to delude the put,! by endorsing bills drawn on their credulit! which he never purposes to meet Tj only steps taken hitherto to. supply 0! want by our present Corporate body.haj been the purchase of a worthless supply dirty water, and a fire-bell which sh 0 „j be erected, if for no other purpose ft, that of calling the Corporation to awal and attend to their duties. It is not 01 province,—although we have previous j done so, and should feel no hesitancy] j doing so again, were it our duty,—to ppoti t out where water can be obtained, or ti cost and mode of obtaining it j but rathe to make such gross derelictions of dui [known as that on which wo have b<* * commenting, and not to cease railing a«ai and again until the pledges of fair *L ! raises and honesty of intention deposit* I with the public bo redeemed.