Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, October 20, 1874.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 264, 20 October 1874, Page 5

Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, October 20, 1874.

We think all good citizens, and, indeed, the people throughout the whole district, will be glad to hear that the Town Council has at last determined to exercise its powers as a Local Board of Health under the Act of 1872. It is more through carelessness on the part of some, and ignorance on the part of others, that the laws-of* health are at any time flagrantly violated by citizens as a body, and every one who reflects for a moment will see. that it is a right and proper thing for some central and organised body to be invested with the power to frame regulations which may, if necessary, be enforced by the law. In this respect, indeed, the Local Board will be exceedingly fortunate, as it possesses already, as a Council, an excellent set of bye-laws, the legality of which is happily established beyond a doubt The Act is too long and of too much importance for us to attempt to quote it at any length; it should be studied carefully in its entirety. Regulations are provided, or rather, the power to make them, and all the necessary machinery for enforcing a due respect to them. We again commend the action of the Council to all interested in the matter. The Council did another good thing at its last meeting, for which we think they deserve the thanks of the community. They have, at last settled the question of a water supply for Cromwell. It is true they did not even settle as to what engineer they should employ for the purpose, but.relegated it to a Committee, which we feel certain will never allow the question to go hack for the consideration of the Council. It possesses full powers to df»al with the question, and it will exercise and that speedily. We would just add -a word of encouragement to the members of that Committee. It is natural that they should hesitate at incurring any heavy expenses at the outset of the work, for plans and books of reference and other preliminary work. But th°y must remember that it is better ten times to pav a handsome sum at first for r»lsms,- &&.< which will be complete and perfect, and which will he above suspicion, than to get a set of pi ms for Si mere trifle, which might possibly be workable for a while, but which hefore the ivork itself was completed, would require so many additions and alterations -as would almost double the original- price of it. Mr Barr, with whom the Council, we understand, are in communication in the matter, is an Engineer whose character as a professional man and a gentleman is of the highest kind, and the Committee •cannot do better than close at once with him. We hope to see the survey, and all the necessary preliminaries, (ordering of plant, Ac.,) finished before the New Year, in readiness for the actual beginning of the long expected work.

[Since writing the above, we have been glad to hear that the Committee have taken the step advised. Mr Barr has been notified by telegram that his terms have been agreed to, and he may shortly be expected to arrive iu Cromwell.]