THE NELSON WATERWORKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 239, 8 October 1880, Page 2

THE NELSON WATERWORKS.

To tub Editor of the " Evening Mail." . Sir,— Now that the hubbub about the mismanagement of the Waterworks haa somewhat subsided, by your leave I beg to lay some matters in connection therewith before the inhabitants of the City. All the scientific men bave always contended that the purity of water is most essential to the health of the people in towns or thickly populated places. Now, here is what Dr Ure, one of England's greatest minds, says about the purity of wnter, «' It cannot but be too interesting an object to ascertain the component ports and qualities of the water daily consumed by the inhabitants of large towns and vicinities. A very minute portion of unwholesome matter, daily taken, may constitute the principal cause of the differences -in salubrity which are observable in different places, and, in regard to marufacture, it ia wellknown to the brewer, the paper maker, the bleacher, and a variety of other artists, of how much consequence it is to them tbat this fluid should either be pure," or at least not contaminated with. such particles as tend to injure the qualitieo of the articles they make."' Comment on the" above from me is useless. It is a well-known fact that the water in the mains has frequently' been very bad the last two years; 'whether througftUhe' negligence of the Council, the surveyor, or; the reservoir keeper, or the faulty construe-

i tion of the works, but perhaps all the four, [ the people have been killed here right and left. I mean hy bad water, and bad dra'.nage, i aud no one ever said anything about it until • Mr Thomas Harley had pluck enough to let ' the " cat out of the bag." If the fault is in the first three, the ratepayers have a remedy i in their bands hy turning them all out, but iv the inst, tbey can remedy it by new and more efficient works. Now, Mr Edi!or, lam i sure if the people of Nelson were to know how deleterious the water is that is run direct from the dam, without haviug been first settled iv the reservoir ahd passed through proper filters before the water is let into the main; it is my humble opinion that it is ono of the ca.uefes that has brought so much sickness in the place lately. Therefore, I think it is time .that the inhabitants of the city should take this matter into their serious consideration. If will allow tne space in your valuable colums, in my next I will endeavor to show how auy one can detect any filth in the water when they suspect any. — -i I anv&c., "- • , , [ThC signature selected is\illegible*j j»w«__3ww__e_iw_Mß-nwiiit-_w«