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Evening Star, Issue 3500, 12 May 1874, Page 2

It is to be regretted that the discussion with regard to the purity or the impurity of the water supplied by the Dunedin Waterworks should have been allowed to become a purely personal question. It is a scientific question merely, and ought to be decided on scientific ground*. We cannot believe that Dr Bakewell desired, in bringing before the public what ho conceived to be the impure state of the water in question, anything else ihaU' the public good ; and it cannot be imagined that the Chairman of the Waterworks wishes evil to the insides of his fellow-citizens that they should form the abodes of creeping things innumerable. But the public has no concern with the wishes of these gentlemen. It can be of little importance to the public to know that one gentleman is better acquainted with the habits of crustaceans than with the usages of goad society. Nor is it of any great moment that it should be decided whether the gentleman who brings the charges against the water, desires to benefit himself or the public. It is a question of punry of water and not of purity of motives. If, however, mere personal considerations are allowed to enter into the matter, it is to be feared that it will not be decided on its merits. Two parties will inevitably be formed Crustaceans, say, and aati-Crustaceaus—-there will be a mere counting of heads, and the public will probably suffer. Whatever may be the decision on the main question, there can be no doubt that the thanks of the community, and indeed of the Waterworks Company, are due to Dr -Bakewell for pointing out certain sources of danger to the health of the City existing on the area drained by the reservoir at Pine Hill. We may be certain, at*auy rate, that these nuisances will be done away with.