THE COMPANY'S WATER.

Evening Star, Issue 3470, 7 April 1874, Page 3

THE COMPANY'S WATER.

To tlie Editor. i t i IR, T tlle statements contained in the letter of Drßfvkewell. read at th« last meeting of the City Council re the water now being supplied to the citizens by the Waterworks Company be true, thea that gentleman deserves the thanks of the community for bringing the matter before the citizens representatives, and it behoves them to take immediate steps to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of the statements. If they are tru«, and I have a strong conviction u^f'n^ 1110116 ? au reaaoi. why the City Council should at once undertake the supply of water to the city by the erection of new work. It is quite true thai some time ago a report was made by Profea sor Black, aftsr analysis, which went to show that the water was extremely pure and good, and I can easily understand how that gentleman's report may be quite correct, ano . also Dr Bakewell'a statements inasmuoh a-, possibly the water analysed byjtrofeßaor

Black was taken from the reservoir or pipes at a time when for some days previously there had been no rain to disturb the water in the reservoir or to wash a lot of decayed animal and vegetable matter into it, whilst that experimented on by the doctor was taken after rain. But, sir, whether this be so or not, itdoes not affect the question,'because it is monstrous to suppose that because the citizens get moderately pure water In fine weather, they are to he poisoned on every occasion when we have rain. Besides it must be patent to everyone that no water supplied without going through the purifying process of filtration can be good. Apropos of this filtering question, I have heard that in the Imperial Act, which is incorporated with the Dunedin Waterworks Company’s Act, it is prov ded that every waterworks shall have a filter bed ; and as the Company has not this, it becomes a question whether, by its absence, they have not forfeited their charter, or, in other words, their compulsory powers. Ido not, of my own knowledge, know whether this state-

ment is correct, hut it will be well worth the while of our City Council to submit the point to Messrs Hievwright and Stout, the Corporation solicitors on the waterworks question. Perhaps this, may be one of the things that Mr Robert Gillies hinted at as a reason why [the company should sell their works, and about which he was so darkly mysterious—who knows ? With regard to the water question generally, I am persuaded the true policy of the citizens lies in the erection of new works, even though the present Company retain their compulsory powers. It must be obvious to all that, with the rapid increase in our population, and consequent extension of buildings, and establishment of industries requiring water Eower. the present supply of water will soon e totally inadequate to ouc wants ; and if this so, why should we hesitate a moment in repairing as far as we can the mischief that has already been done, and erect works of our own, and thus stop to an extent at least the monstrous monopoly which now exists, and which is now and will in the future be such a burden to the citizens. Is it to be contended for a moment that for all time the citizens shall be made to pay a profit of 20 per cent for the supply of such a necessary of daily life as water, merely to enrich a few monopolists, who have no other thought of the public than that of extracting as much as possible from their pockets to transfer to their own ? Of the inability of the company to supply our future wants they themselves appear to be sufficiently aware, as they are about applying for further powers to increase their capital, with a view doubtless to extend their works. Now, sir, I wish to urge upon the citizsns the absolute necessity of opposing at any cost this application of the company, for I feel convinced that if they succeed in their attempt, the citizens may say goodbye to waterworks of their own, except on such terms as the company may dictate. At present they cannot supply the higher parts of the City or Mornington and Roslyn With increased capital they will be able to accomplish all this, and if they do, it is not difficult to see that it might not then pay to have a second waterworks. So convinced am I of the importance ®{ preventing the Company’s proposed Bill from passing, that the question of expense in opposition ought not to be considered. A parliamentary agent of experience should be at once engaged; a barrister of standing should be sent to plead the Corporation cause at the bar of the House ; and one of the leading Councillors or the Mayor should also go to Wellington to protect the citizens. It will be said by some, and justly too, if the Corporation retain new works, and the company retain their present compulsory powers, how can they be made to pay. 1 have extended this communication to too great a length to go into this question now; but, with your permission, I will, in a future communication, endeavor to show how it can be done.—l am, &c., H. S. Fish, Jun. Dunedin, April 6.