THAMES WATER SUPPLY.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 64, 20 December 1871, Page 3

THAMES WATER SUPPLY.

ADJOURNED PUBLIC MEETING, A ruELic meeting, adjourned from the Academy of Music on Monday, was held in Graham’s paddock yesterday afternoon, to take into consideration the question of handing over the Thames Water Works to a private company. Our readers will remember, by reference to the report which appeared in our columns of yesterday, that the meeting was adjourned on the motion of Mr Brodie, in order that the public might have an opportunity of considering the resolution and the amendments submitted, before deciding what course they should take in the matter. The meeting was accordingly adjourned to 4 p.m. yesterday, at which hour there was a tolerably good although not large attendance. Mr Burgess explained the circumstances under which the meeting was convened, and called upon them to elect a chairman, Mr Robert Graham was voted to the chair, and said lie had been requested to appear at this meeting. Different propositions would be submitted to the meeting, and it would he for them to say whether they approved of the water works being handed over to a company or not. Dr Merrett said he hoped whatever was done, that the interests of the poor man would be attended to, and that the poor, at all events, should not be deprived of a supply of water through monopoly. (Hear, hear.) Mr Brodie, as the mover of the adjournment on the previous day was called to the platform, and on responding to the call, repeated his reasons for moving the adjournment, saying it was onh' right that the public should know what had been done, and should judg<; for themselves what course to take. If the Highway Boards wanted to have these water works on their hands, lie s’nould like to see them propose to supply the water free of expense. Twice last night lie had carefully considered the question, and had come to the conclusion that he should support Mr Perstou’s amendment. The want of a proper water supply here was very great. The water at present obtainable was for the most part so impregnated with minerals that it was really unfit for use. lie cordially supported the amendment of Mr Perston (made on the previous evening), “ That this meeting is of

opinion that, inasmuch as it is unlikely that the Provincial Government will give to the water works recently erected that extension which is urgently required in the interest of the inhabitants of this district ; and inasmuch as the Highway Boards have no means of extending the supply to the various streets in which it is required, and have no corporate powers to keep alive a trust, it is expedient to make over the water works to a joint stock company on the following or similar terms : 1. That the company shall repay the Government the amount expended on the present works, with the understanding that the sum thus liberated shall bo placed at the disposal of the Highway Boards for roadmaking purposes. 2nd. That a maximum rate shall be fixed, which the company may not exceed, for the use of the water, and that the company shall supply water at standpipes in certain places free of cost, for the use of the poorer inhabitants, for cattle troughs, and for foot passengers, and at low rates; for watering the streets, if necessary. 3rd. That the com pany shall at once proceed to extend the present works by laying mains to supply all the principal points of population ; and 4th. That in case the present township should at any future time be incorporated as a borough, the corporation shall have the option of purchasing the water works at a fixed price.” Air Perston said lie was glad to see Mr Brodie and gentlemen who, like him, lived up the creeks, coming forward in this matter. After referring to his own remarks of the previous evening, and repeating the argument then used, he observed that since then lie perceived by the newspapers that there had been a meeting of goldfields members in Auckland on this subject, and had arranged for themselves as to the best method of disposing of the sum placed on the estimates for various public works on the goldfields. The speaker here referred to the report as it appears in our issue of yesterday. Mr Perston proceeded in support of his amendment.

A gentleman present asked who formed the private company to whom it was proposed to hand over the water works, and was answered that Mr Owen Jones was the agent and representative of the ityMr Perston went on to say that the Highway Board had applied to the Government for extra stand pipes, and received a point blank refusal. He concluded by calling attention to the great importance of the subject. A Voice in the crowd : You want the billet of Secretary to Works. Another: Yes ; a snug little thing of throe or four notes a week, and not much to do (a laugh). Mr Goodall urged upon the meeting to act for themselves, and not to lie tied to anybody’s apron string. He should he always happy to see the hospital well supported, but lie did not want to sec £J ,000 taken away from the water works for the purpose. He. believed £I,OOO could he raised easily tor hospital purposes on the field. The hospital was erected chiefly by private subscription, and was started by certain ladies, who went about with subscription lists. It was very likely a company was most anxious to get hold of these water works. Money was locked up waiting for investment, hut let this company spend its money on new and larger water works, and not interfere with this small supply. The company could have had a splendid opportunity to supply Auckland witli water if they liked, and lie hoped the little game they were trying to play here would not succeed. It had been all worked up very nicely and quietly, so much so that lie knew nothing about it until the other day. Mr Warjioll said he would like, as a resident of the Thames, to see the people get their rights in this matter. He did not think the proposition ef the Government to hand over the works to this company was fair, and, if the people agreed to it, it would be like selling their birthright. There seemed to be an impression that this company was going to give a large water supply all at once, but it would take a long time to carry out the scheme. It was all very well to talk about the danger of fire, and the likelihood of having the place burnt down, but this company would not and could not remedy that all at once. He, as an owner of property here—probably of as much as any man had in any wooden shanty here —would like to see his building protected, but was not one to advocate his own selfish interests, if opposed to the public good. If a municipal corporation were established here, and had power to borrow money, and the water works were handed over, then the people would get the benefit. Ten per cent, was not all, probably, this company intended to get. They might get some of their friends employment in good situations, perhaps. (Hear, hear.) He should like to see all the water of the Kamvaeranga stream brought here, but what they particularly required just now was to get their own water supply into their own hands. The local Boards had been snubbed by the Provincial Government. (A voice: And by some of your own servants too.) But let the water works be retained as at present until a municipality is established, and then they could carry out the works properly, as far, indeed, as the water would go. Mr "Warmoil quoted from a letter of Mr Mackay enumerating the provisions of the Government proposition, and moved as au amendment—“ That this meeting protests against the Provincial Government handing over the water works to any company, and desires to know upon what terms they will be prepared to hand the works over to the local authorities of the district.” This was seconded. Mr Grove next addressed the meeting, saying he had plenty of water himself in the Hape Creek, but as a member of the community of the Thames, lie desired to express his opinion on this subject. Tie should support the proposition to let the Highway Boards have the control of the water for the present, and have the revenue say for two years or so. He understood that the General Government had agreed to spend a large sum in a larger scheme for a water supply from the Kauwacranga.

A Voice : Question ? Mr Swan, who was called to the front, came forward and said lie regretted to be in antagonism to friends with whom he had formerly worked. On first hearing, he had intended to condemn the scheme, but on considering the proposals of the company carefully, he felt it to be his duty to support them. He did not want a billet from the company, and nobody who knew him to be a man who would work for 30s per week, rather than take a Government billet of £3, would not accuse him of such a thing. Mr Swan repeated the substance of his argument on the previous day, and, referring to Air Warmoll, said that gentleman talked a good deal about municipalities, and seemed to he suffering from the disease called “ hippomaues,” a raging

humour in mares (Mayors). (Laughter.) Mr Swan concluded by saying that if they did not go in for separation of the goldfields from the rest of the piovince—in which he would go heart and so il with them—the best tiling they could do was to accept the good offer They had got. Let them thank the gods for what they had given, and take the offer made them.

Dr Sam, who was called for, said he had not intended to speak on this occasion, for two reasons: first, because lie had spoken before on this question the previous evening; and secondly, because he had expected to see a larger attendance. He was surprised, as they had been enlightened by one member of the M aiotahi Board that a member of the Kamvaeranga Board had not addressed them. They had heard all sorts of speeches, and had had all sorts of promises held out to them, but he trusted they would be guided by their own judgment. He had been absent from his legislative duties in Auckland, in consequence of circumstances over which lie had not control, but he was proud to he present here. He would ask them if they did not accept the company’s offer, where were they going to get the money from ? These men who talked to them about acting for themselves, and so forth, had they got the money ? Was 10 per cent, too much to pay for money, when much more could be made by mining speculation. He supported the proposal of the Governpient to hand over the works to a company, and so did Mr Mackay. He was independent of Mr Owen Jones, and Mr T. Russell, and Mr Whitaker, and all the rest of them, and they had too much good sense to ask him to support their views, as they had too much good sense not to know that he should act as lie thought right in the matter, without being asked by them. He knew that Mr Swanson—a most independent man, for whom lie had the highest respect—entertained the same views as himself on this matter. They had a good offer before them, and he urged them to take it. Mr Ray said he was in favour of letting the matter remain as it was for the present. Mr Harris said lie was a colonist of 34 years’ standing, and knew the value of municipalities, seeing how much good had been done in Richmond, Victoria, under a corporation. Tic was tired of the swindles perpetrated by the Government, and by companies, but if the people stuck up for their rights they would get them. Let them remember what Dr Lang had done in Sydney to get the lands handed over to the people when lie was opposed by all the squatters. If they flung away flic water they had got, and handed it over to a monopoly, they would find themselves sold, and would remember his words for ever. The Chairman said ho would now put the propositions submitted in what lie thought the best manner to be understood : Ist. He would ask them to testify in the usual manner would they vote for the company or against it. This was decided in the negative. 2nd. Mould they vote for the Provincial Government having control ? For this only one or two hands were held up, and a great number against it. 3rd. Would they vote for the Highway Boards having the control ? This was carried by a large majority. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Air F. Humphreys, and duly seconded and carried, terminated the proceedings.