THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3199, 21 May 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1879.

;Thb,,residenti of Shortland, we,are "pleased to see, are showing an interest in the matter of a belter water supply for that portion of the municipality/ and intend holding a meeting this evening at which their representatives in the Borough Council have been asked to attend. The importance of having as good a supply .of I water for Shortland as that furnished to the greater part of Grahamstown we have ; frequently . advocated in theie columns, and this action on the part of the persons most interested we most cordially, endorse. The inability of the Domestic Waier Supply Committee to fully carry out its duties, is the result of arrangements made some years ago, at which the interest held by the several Highway Boards was apportioned. If the Boards had continued in existence it is probable no conflict would have arisen with the Borough Council, or if such had, 'the matters in dispute would have been easily arranged. In addition to the unsatisfactory relations between the members of the Committee managing the Water Supply, the Act under which it is formed is so imperfect and so limits the power of the Committee, that only two solutions of the situation offer themselves-. The first is that the one-quarter interest held by the County Council, as the successors of the Waiotahi Highway Board, should be acquired by the Borough Council, who could then, under the Municipal Corporation Act, deal with the whole supply. The second Jway to solve the question is, that steps should be taken to have extended powers granted by act of Parliament to the Water Supply Committee, enabling them to strike a rate, and so have some ißeurity upon which to borrow money to extend the supply, and in other directions ,tp .fulfil their duty to this community. In carrying out the latter suggestion, however, many difficulties present themselves: the uncertainty of Parliament granting rating and other powers to :the Water Supply Corporation, the time and expense necessary to bring about such a result, and. several other circumstances that would prevent any immediate relief being obtained from pursuing such a course. The easiest and most expeditious way to end the present deadlock would bo that suggested first, namely, that . the Borough should acquire the remaining quarter interest in the Supply, and administer it under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act..,,, When the importance of the subject is considered, there should be very little hesitation as to wHch corrse to

adopt; and we trust the committees appointed »by the Borough and County Councils will agree to such terms as will speedily end the present unsatisfactory position of affairs.