WANGANUI.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 315, 24 April 1878, Page 2

WANGANUI.

(from our own correspondent.) Our water supply is proving a terrible bother. We first drew illegally from a lake, the property of Mrs Hair, and then when threatened with divers pains and penalties, as the result of the obstinacy, neglect, incapacity, or worse, of our representatives in the Council, we connected at an immense cost with the Westmere Lake; Now, what follows. After all the boasting about the limitless supply, an advertisement appears in the papers to the effect that “any person using the Corporation water supply after , this date, for other than strictly domestic purposes, will have the water service cut off at once without further notice.” Now, this is too lovely. We pay fearful rates in connection with this water supply, which has been so terribly bungled that these shameful restrictions are obliged to be placed upon its use. But where the laugh comes in, though not for the consumer is, that the water is, until strained and filtered, not fit for strictly domestic purposes ! It has spoiled dozens of brews at the various brewing establishments, it is so full of decayed roots, and other filth that for drinking and cooking purposes, until purified, it is absolutely useless, neither is it fit for washing purposes, except bathing, and then at times the smell is very offensive. And this is the great gift of the Westmere Lake. It has proved a veritable delusion and a snare. We have ah expensive but entirely unworkable siphon, with all the’ elaborate paraphernalia of filterbox, air valve, meter, &c., &c. That siphon has its bed in the Virginia Lake out of which we neither dare use a drop —if we could get it except by using the air-pump—nor dare we utilise it as a reservoir. We have had for a long time past to depend solely upon the Westmere Lake, which was once thought inexhaustible, but which now shows nnmistakeable signs of giving in, there being only a few available inches of water left. • Now is not this a pretty state of affairs. Another week’s dry weather , and we probably will not have a drop for domestic purposes, fires, or anything else. Old Millar, F.S.A., might shake in his grave witli mirth in contemplation of the position now arrived at, and well he might. If ever you project a water supply for Patoa pray take a lesson from us. Avoid legal complications, by infringing on the rights •of none, and yield, if proven to be in error. And employ a competent professional man to do your work both before and alter your pipes are laid. We have had all gradations of “'competent” superintending officials from certificated engineers to ship carpenters ; and behold the result !

The wind for the last few weeks has been a caution to vegetation, and the farmers are crying out for ram, and dreading a winter’s starvation for their stock. . It has, been a most extraordinary season. f As yet a break does not appear even probable ; sometimes, in the morning, it looks black and lowering, but passes away before the gale which is almost every ' day’s experience. A week’s rain would be grateful to the thirsty earth. I would here remind unbelievers of the Maori prediction delivered some month’s ago in reference to the exceptionally dry season which might be expected. Have yon had those shoddy men round your district ? They are a warm pair. They begin with a plansablo yarn about goods expected to arrive and which they are expected to dispose of at unheard of prices, and then, ■when you commence to nibble at the bait, they have you with a remnant or two of shoddy not worth making up. They appear to have practiced their parts well, and are by no means indifferent salesmen. But that shoddy ! I pity a man who gets a tight fit pair of trousers of -it, and’ requires to tie his boots on the streets. As he walks on, unconsious of a rent in his broadcloth, he will wonder where the draught comes from. I heard that the worthy pair had a Jew pawnbroker iii Wellington properly. Wasn’t I glad. An ancient, wideawake, live Hebrew “uncle” to be had like that! He actually gave them, after listening to their plausible tale, 8s a yard “ advance ” on a quantity of cloth worth about half-a-crown.- And he thought he was sure of closingmpon the bargain. And now he tears his few remaining hairs—he darent grind his teeth —and invokes in choice language curses loud and deep on those porkeating sons of swindlers. You have some sand about Carlyle, and we have some here too. Hundreds of tons are annually taken into our river by C burton’s creek alone.- And these late gales must hayeAembly,increased the normal quantity Do your sand hills travel like ours ? I could point you out manes of sand weighing thousands of tons which have been moved by the action ot the wind alone,- chains distant from their original position. One is in full yiew from where I write, which must have moved bodily several feet within a very few days, besides increasing in elevation through i

the action of the weather. Sand is on.£ of the great drawbacks that our Harbor Board will have to contend with. I hope to live to see the day when every sand hill in and near the town, including the Rutland and York Stockade Grounds will have disappeared to do duty in the work of reclamation and harbor improvement. I hear that the Theatre Company project has burst up. Such is Wanganui normally. A flash in the pan and then collapse. We are to have a Town Hall to cost £2,500. The Borough Council have had a great old squabble over it, and in this case common sense and moderation have not gained the day. The Kells - Liffiton controversy is over, for which, with all other mercies, we should be truly thankful. I don’t think either can score a victory—a drawn game. . . That unfortunate M. D. about whom I wrote you some time ago, has heeii sent to gaol for a month. Such are some of the effects of the vini sacra fames'. An able, gentlemanly, duly qualified practitioner, what a position for him td place himself in ! But, dear me, he is but one of the legion of weak ones, who have suffered in intellect, prospects, reputation, estate, and all that men hold dear through intemperance. Is it any wonder that occasionally too earnest—if ■such can be—advocates of temperance „ principles err in that direction. In a late letter I mentioned to yon serious deminution in traffic on the No 1 Line of road owing to the opening of railway communication. Since theii the lessee of the bridge has made application, though urisuccesfully, to the Borough Council to be relieved of his liability; Of course his proposal could not be entained. What would he say had thd Council communicated with him to the effect that as the bridge was paying' better than was anticipated, he was requested to give up possession so that a higher tender could be obtained. I like people to act reasonably and consistently; There is nevertheless sympathy for thd lessee, but he ought to have taken ,the probable contingencies into consideration when tendering. Had such a precedent been established, it would have exercised a most prejudicial effect generally. I hear for a fact that sometimes the tolloxi the same line of road does not take 5s a, day. In this case the County Council is its own collector, and therefore no individual suffers. The census controversy is at an end, thank Heaven. There is still a vague feeling of dissatisfaction in the certainty that proper work has not been done, the result not accurate, and that therefo're the' district has suffered to a .certain extent. We have added about 450 now names to our electoral rolls. Allowing for striking off there will sr.il! be satisfactory increases, Some splendid cattle passed here this week from your direction, I think, bound for Wellington, overland. It was thd largest mob I have seen on the road. Some of the beasts were very footsore, and were making poor travelling on the hard road.

The shooting season for native game having commenced fowling pieces are in requisition. I fear certain enthusiastic sportsmen do not draw the line scrupulously at native game. The Supreme Court opens on Wednesday with a light criminal calender and but few civil cases.