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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3286, 19 August 1889, Page 2

Ouii local contemporary, referring to the question of borrowing for tho improvement of Mastorton declares that with a high pressure water supply there is not tho slightest prospect of Insurance rates being greatly reduced. This is a mistake, because we are satisfied from enquiries which we have made, that the Insurant Companies would reduce rates to about one half of the present spale if there were a- high pressure water supply in the town. We affirm that tho reduction would mean a saving in rates of £SOO per annum, and we challenge our contemporary to disprove the assertion, A correspondent of the same paper denies that in tho event of such a supply being obtained hi Masterton that there would be a local demand for water rights. " What man" he says "at tho present time would get it laid on to his premises." Well, we havo made enquiries on this point, and, in the event of the project being taken up by any of our leading public men would pledge ourselves to supply a " little list" of a number of residents who would gladly pay for water rights, but the writer of the letter in

question overlooks the fact that a revenue from water rights is a certainty, as, fay law, persons being within a' certain distance of a service pipe are obliged to contribute. The water rights and tho saving m insurance rates would more than cover all possible charges for interest and maintenance Another error into which the writer falls is the supposition that what ho is pleased to call the semi-muddy liquid of the Waipipi would be tapped. As far as

we canlearn the best available source of supply would be tho Waingawa, and wofancy the public would have full ponlidenco in tho volume and purity of this stream. Wc do not know who the corrqspondent in question may be, but tho letter is endorsed by our local contemporary, and we can only regret that he is not better informed as to the merits of the question upon which he writes. Wo would gladly see his Worship the Mayor or some Councillor movo for an approximate return showing (1) The probable cost of a high, pressure water supply. (2) The annual charges for interest and maintenance (8) The annual saving in insurance rotes, (4) Tho probable income from compulsory . and voluntary water rights, Such a return would involve a little labor but no expense, and the figures given would, we venture to predict, prove that a high pressure water supply would bo a prudent and profitable undertaking, Tho Mayor has mado a gallant struggle to reduce Insurance rates by a cheap water supply, but after the lapse of a considerable period of time Ije has failed to accomplish his purpose. W,o trust he will give any proposal that may be made for a high pressure supply fair play, If tho Council get the information we have suggested the public will bo in a better position than they now arc to determine the question. We give the Mayor credit for having made an earnest effort to givo the town such a water supply as would relieve (he Insurance dilliculty. In this respect he has an advantage oyer his Council which, as yet, Ip submitted no alternative proposal, In our opinion the Mayor underestimated not only the cost of an efficient supply, but aisp the difh\ culties incidental to his project, but still he went to work, and it is better to go to work and fail than to sit with idle hands and criticize, Wo should not objeot to Masterton borrowing a thousand pounds to carry out the Mayor's scheme, if it were found that the result would be asubstantjaj reduction of insurance rates, We cay a thousand nounds because such'a 'project'to be of any great utility would require-welrcon'striicte'd concrete 'channels. Such ' a sum would 1$ iftdyantageously laid put, give tho town'a servicepj? 'sjippjy, If, however, as most public men in Masterton believe, a high pressure supply is only-a question of time we

would submit for tho consideration of the Mayor the advisability of solving the water difficulty once and for all time, by other than a temporary expedient. MrEeuall intended todo much for,Masterton when be brought a rivulet down Queen-street, hut he would do far more for the town if he would make uphis mind to carry out 11 high pressure supply.