The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4383, 20 January 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1883.

The scarcity of water in the Borough is becoming a matterof rery serious moment. All the batteries driven by water have been compelled to cease work, and unless something is done to augment our supply the consequences are likely to be rery disastrous. Some few weeks since the County Chairman wrote to the Government pointing out the desirability and praotioableneas of a scheme by which the supply could be augmented from the Puru Creek. The communication stated that the present race from the Kauaeranga Creek had been a success, and had considerably reduced the price of crushing. low grade quartz, which before its construction was consigned to the mullock tip, was then profitably treated, and in addition to this, theTace partially supplied the Borough domestic purposes. The scheme contemplated by the County Council and submitted by its Chairman was one to trap the Furu Creek about fire and a-half miles from Grahamstown. The few particulars given shewed that this could be done at a 250' feet level, and would develop 260 h.p. at 160 feet head. A flying survey had been made of the route proposed to be taken, and it was found that very few engineering difficulties presented themselves. The rereproducttveness of the work is undispntnble. At present wo have all our revenue resources almost idle for want of water, and there is existent a remote possibility of the burgesses being put upon very short commons in their supply; whereas, were we in a position to make use of the perennial stream referred to, no such thing would be heard of. Paring the years 1881 and 1882 the sums of £22,000 and £10,450 respectively were granted for waterworks on goldfields in the South Island, while not a shilling appeared in the schedule of expenditure for similar purposes iv the North Island. The shameful neglect of the northern portion of the colony, and of this district in particular, is becoming too glaring to be submitted to. Taking all the foregoing circumstances into consideration, it would appear far from unreasonable to urge the Government to help us in the construction of this work. If the County Council were in a position to undertake it we have no doubt that it would not have resorted to the supI plicatory.'method they have adopted; but : as they are willing but unable to carry the work out, and its necessity being a I gutter of no Question, th» Government

should be very strongly urged to help us in the matter. We will deal with this important question more.exhaustively in a future issue.