The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 2 October 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1880.

We congratulate the Borough Council on the wisdom which it has displayed jii computing the charges to be made {or supplying water motive power. The Council had two important considerations to keep in view, one being the necessity for raising as much revenue as possible to assist in il}£ liquidation of interest on waterworks loans, and the necessity at the same time for not overstepping the boundary of prudence by opening their mouths too widely. The distinction between the two is a fine one, and it is creditable to the Council that they have appreciated it. Although, in their desire to discard steam power and substitute water, persons in tjiis town are in no small measure influenced by a wish to utilise a supply for which the community has had to pay so dearly, in order to assist the revenue, yet it would be unreasonable to expect them to make great sacrifices in effecting the change. They have, of course, to take into consideration the cost of expensive machinery and its accompaniments, in the disposal of which, if they find a market for them all, they must be content to register a considerable loss on first cost. ° This is not all. They must then replace them by water power. The question of the desirableness, ov otherwise, from a commercial and personal point of view, of making the change from steam to water power will necessarily be judged by the light thrown upon the matter by'pa refill calculation. The opening up of oar poal pjines, and the consequent reduction in the price of coal, both local and imported/ has Resulted in a very considerable reduction in the working of steam engines. But, even taking this into account, there is stilj. ft material balance left in favor of watef. The feet is that coal will never be able to with water in this town. The supply is inexhaustible and will be uninterrupted unless some unforeseen ancl extraordinary mishap should occur. If the water is not used for motive power it will not be used at all, and the only' difference "will be that less will be> drawn from jhe Waitaki. The clear duty of the Council, therefore, was to so arrange the rates fop motive power as to make the amount by which those who use steam power could economise, by effecting the change, sufficient to induce them to do so, whilst they would be calculated to produce a maximum of revenue available from such a source. This, we think, the Council have done.