FIRE AND WATER.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1479, 24 December 1881, Page 2

FIRE AND WATER.

We are not at all surprised to learn through our Oambrnlge eoi respondent that tiie question uppermost in the public mind of that place i 3 equally divided as between the above-named elements ; the one apprehended in the shape of a calamity, the other clung to in the hope of a cure. Devoutly, as we are disposed to regard the biblical behest, "Let the dead bury its dead," we cannot help reminding Cambridge that in the past ifc has greviously erred in respect to this qie3tion. It allowed its best interests to be trifled with at ttie whun and caprice of the individual or individuals, and it can only thank its stars it has not paid the penalty of that injudicious acquiescence in tiie sacrifice consequent upon a seiious conflagration. The escape has been a nanow one, so very narrow that it may, with much truth, be designated providential Within the past few days, wntns our correspondent, we have had two such occurrences, either of which but for timely intervention might have reduced the greater portion of the town to a waste, and the most \aluable portion of its property, moveable and unmoveable, to a heap of smouldering ashes. These events are sufficiently fresh in the public mind to warrant me dispensing with a recapitulation of their details The remedies, or rather suggested remedies, however, are of more remote origin, and as they are of more importance at the present moment to us, yon will, even at the risk of repetition, be pleased to afford me space for these details. When the Waikato Steam Navigation Company were engaged erecting their warehouses and wharf, a proposal was made of having a water supply scheme in conjunction with their hoisting machinery, 'the capital required for carrying out the work of laying wines through tie town, electing a reservoir and h'Tn-al other miuorwoiks, was estimated by tho chairman of the meeting c illei tii < onsider the matter, at not more Uian£nOO. The annual into est'in that sura would have been about £40 which could have been defrayed by a special water i ate. The company consented to pum|> tho water for something like £1 a weok which, divided amongst a population of about 500 or 600 would have been a mere fcrifl", especially when we consider that the Insuiance ( 'ompanies would havo been prepired to lower their rates A few peinons at that meeting" weie of opinion the Navigation Company wanted to woik a point, consequently it w^t> allowed to go overboard, Mr Gwynneth was then applied to, and the following is the iesult of his investigations regarainjj to practicability of such a scheme in conneofiou with the undcrmentiouo'l sticams : — The Karapiro giving a supply of 84,480 gallons per d<iy of 10 houn, and havmsr an altitude of 190 feet iilmvo the of th< English Church could be utilised at a cost of C 7,000. The Mangakawa 156,000 gallons, 300 feet altitude/costing £3,900. The Pukekuia 84,450 gallons, 200 feet altitude, costing £4,500. And Hally's creek 15G,000 gallons, 230 feet altitude, costing £3,700. As it was impossible or at least injudicious to proceed further towards adoption of either of these until the Town Dirtiicts Bill came into operation so as to enable the local governing body to be invested with moie extensive borrowing powers, the water was allowed to drop. Now that the Town Districts Bdl has parsed aud becomes law the beginning of the year, if anything ib to be done towaids resuscitating the water supply question, this is undoubtedly the proper time. It appears to us the estimated cost of Mr Grwyunoth's plans cannot possibly insure general approval. Hally's Creek scheme is the cheapest, but to pay inleiest on a loan of £3,700 would necessitate the raising of a water rate of £250 per annum, without making provision for a sinking fund. There is very little more than £200 local lates raised in Cambridge at the present time, and by imposing a water rate of Is in the £ on the annual value only £300 would be realised. Agiin, it must be remembered that all the ntepayeis w- [ ..ide the town belt would not pay the water rate therefore, only a part of the i atepayer& would be lett to make up thf sum of £250. If, theiefore, the people of Cambridge cannor see their way to adopt this 1 itfccr scheme, let them revei t to the original scheme in connection with the Navigation Company's woiks, and it this too be found to be unworkable, why not get a small hand fire engine, by which water could be pumped from the river or lake ? A volunteer brigade would be found to look after it. and thus we would have the means of at le ist checking the spread of tire.