THE WATER SUPPLY QUESTION

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3511, 27 March 1880, Page 2

THE WATER SUPPLY QUESTION

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sir,—Judging from the report of proceedings at the last meeting of the Borough Council this question seems as far off a settlement as ever. It is a pity that the local bodies in this Little Fedlington must * always be trying to outwit eich other—showing off their diplomatic skill and ability inj a variety of dodgery anything but creditable to us as . a community. Were the greatest national interests at issue, there could not be more fencing, feinting, and shuffling about on the political chessboard than has taken place qver this matter. There has been conferences and committee meetings innumerable, and a vast quantity of correspondence. There has been mediating powers in the shape of the late Premier*, Native Minister and the present Attorney General. It seems scarcely credible that we are but the one com* munity fighting ourselves, endeavoring to make the best bargain with ourselves, and in the meantime losing the substance for the shadow. There can be but little doubt that we will now lose the vote of £3,500 granted to this district for the express purpose of. putting an end to this squabble, so that between the two stools of Borough and County we will fall to the ground. The 9in mains will not be. laid down, aud should a fire take place in Shortland the consequences are likely to be serious, as the present supply is altogether inadequate. ;Would it not be more sensible if our representatives would meet each other in a fair spirit, agree to mutual concessions, and set this matter into proper working order instead of the present chaos. The public as a whole would reap the advantage. My own opinion on this point is that the Borough should derive the revenue for water supplied for motive power or manufacturing purposes out of the Domestic Supply only but as affairs stand, the County having rightly or wrongly obtained possession of the big race, I do not see that the Borough can justly claim revenue accruing from water obtained out of that source. The way out of the difficulty is plain enough, the matter once arranged with the County, the Borough, the sale owner, could find no difficulty in borrowing capital to construct a largo reservoir capable of i storing a sufficient quantity of water to 1 meet requirements. The waste from the big race on Sundays and other times could no doubt be secured, and the provision already made in case of drought would render them practically independent of the County. The mains could then be laid down and the same benefits extended to Shortland which Grrahamstown has now enjoyed at our joint expense the last two years, and which I contend was a most scandalous job, the water actually flowing past the residents of Shortland without their being able to get it. Should the two Council* not come to terms the best solution of the present deadlock will be to amalgamate and so put an end to all these imaginary conflicting interests. Let it be called Couuty. Borough, Highway district, or by any other name, it matters not if we only get efficiency with economy in management.—l am, &c, J. E. Hawsbn.