THE WATER SUPPLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2588, 24 July 1882, Page 3

THE WATER SUPPLY.

To the Editor of the Olobe.

Sib, —The last time we were asked to vote for a water supply was it not for the expreaa purpose of benefiting oertain parties interested In Lane's mill ? and, If perchanco sufficient votea had been reoorded ;for the job at that time, we would now have been the proud possessors of that Industrial institution.

This time it is proposed to make us the owners of some elaborate machinery, for the benefit of science, no donbt, and may be for the benefit of some interested puties; but, aa far as I can see, not at all for the benefit of the ratepayers. Such is my opinion, Mr Editor, as also that of all my sisters, and my couslnß, and aunts.

Yours, &o , PINAFORE. Chrlstohurch, 24th July, 1882.

To the Editor of the Globe.

Sib, —In reply to your sub leader, where you mention my name, I consider it is my duty, as a ratepayer of Ohristohuroh, not to allow the remarks to pass unnoticed. You aay—" A well considered scheme." By whom ? Not the ratepayers, as the majority are against machinery work, whioh is moit expensive and very often out of repair. You say Wellington has waterworks coaling something like £200,000, and that it very nearly oovers interest and sinking fund. Query ? I aek you, Mr Editor, oan Wellington produce artesian wells, and has Wellington such a splendid river through the centre of their town as wo have, and have they suoh abundanoo of water running through their streets such as we have, as stated by the obairman of the water supply committee, viz , 5,000,000 gallons. Bead this in Mr Vinoent's reply to Mr Cuff. [Sea "Lyttelton Times," Saturday, July 22nd. | As for fire prevention, lot the insurance companies come out more liberally than 12£, as stated. They say, "we will support a water soheme." But what scheme, Mr i Editor! why one that wa are not yet prepared to go into. That ia the conclusion I arrived at after hearing the latter read at the water sapply meeting. I think, Mr Editor, we have been caught several times re Dj-aiu-age Board. You say, "Sale of watar to factories, &o." I don't think you travel much in Ohristchurch to see what has been done by the largest factories re water supply ; and is it likely they will buy water when they have got abundance already, and have gone to a great outlay for lead and iron tanks, pipes, fittings, <fco. I could name a great many well supplied who employs the largest number of hands in Ohristohuroh. The only one I see likely to take water in Oashel street is the one opposite your office i " John me Joe." So muoh for the sale of the water. What I have already said about Wellington applies to O&maru as well. If I had been you, I certainly should have left the name of Oamaru out altogether. You forgot to mention what they have been taxed at, namely, at four shillings and sixpence in the pound. No wonder the shops and houces are all empty. So will they be in Christchuroh if we don't have proper men in the Council, They promise, when eleoted, to do a great deal, and, when they get in, they seem to all run in the same groove, and allow some one to talk the a over. Mr Editor, I am glad you acknowledge we shall be taxed more if we have a water supply. Bravo 1 Mr Editor, I like the truth. You say we shall have it baok in the way of disouont from the insurance oompanies if we allow a water scheme. So, with your permission, Mr Editor, I will show you how I stand in reference to my property, although the champion of the water soheme told the Council that I acknowledge saving £2 2s 6.1. I deny that in toto. What I said was this. lam rated at £214, and if I pay a 4.Jd rate on that amount it will be £4 0* 3i, and I am insured for £ISOO, at 22s 6d, and that will be £l6 17* 6i, and the insurance gives me 12J off that amount discount, viz.—£2 2j 3i off £1 Oa 3.1. This leaves me £1 18s the wrong side of the ledger, besides coating me £23 to lay a one inoh iron pipe from the main. Bememjker, Mr Editor, I don't want the water, and hundreds of ratepayers besides me do not want it. You also say, "Saving the Fire Brigade, £IOOO. Where does that come from ? Why out of the general rate ; and if they save that why don't they lower that rate ? Surely, Mr Editor, when the ratos keep getting higher every year how oan they lave us money. If thoy do, where does it go to ? Some time ago you had a subleader on me, sayirg how Mr Samuel Olarkson had gulled the latepayers in not allowing a water soheme to pass, as the opposition whioh I had a great deal to do with was most active. Now, Mr Editor, what wn that soheme ? I will tell you. Pipes were to be laid along the Papanui road, round the Christjhuroh Triangle, and in Cathedral square up to your office, and the whole of the city ratepayers were to pay for a few. I leive the public to judge who was going to gull the ratepayers, the editor of the Gxobb or Mr Samuel Olarkson. As for saving £SOO in street watering as stated by Mr Vinoent, it is all bosh. Why in Dunedin, where they have a watter supply, the streets are watar; i by watering carts. That I saw for myself when I was there. Besides we ratepayers never paid for that; it was a special rate paid by the shopkeepers in the centre of the town. How can eaoh ratepayer save by that as stated by Mr Vinoent t Mr Editor, the more you stir the gruel, the thioker it get*. I remember some time ago reading a looal in the papers that our city fathers had sold the night soil to a man named Mr Hanson for £SO per year, which was going to be an asset. I ask you to aek your reporter to go and see if that has turned out asatat£d._ I am given to understand not one farthing have they received, Dor are likely to. Mr editor, I hope you will not think my letter long, as there is one thing mora I wish to cay. In one of your leaders some time back vou said I wish to stop the progress of Christchuroh. How you come to that conclusion I don't know, con&idering I have helped, after I have done a day's work, to make the roads of OhriGtohuroh in the days of James Edward Fitzgerald. I must conclude by asking you to insert this in you-? next issue.

Yours, &?., SAMUEL OLARK3ON, Cashel street.

Ghriatchurcb, July 24th, 1882. ["With regard to Mr Clarkson'a remarks respecting the Wellington Water Supply, we Leg to call his attention to the statement to be found in another column signed by the City Treasurer of Wellington. After reading it, probably Mr Clarkson will feel inclined to aHer his views very considerably. —Ed., Globe.]