CAMBRIDGE WATER SUPPLY LOAN. TO THE EDITOR.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1654, 10 February 1883, Page 3

CAMBRIDGE WATER SUPPLY LOAN. TO THE EDITOR.

Siii," — Will you kindly allow me space for a few remarks and explanations reAt the meeting held in the Town Hall a speuting the supply of water in Cambi idge ? low nights ago some strange statements weic made, which lead those unacquainted \\ ith the place to believe that people ate dying f i om using bad -water, and no good water is to be got in the town. Now, first, we have the largest river in the province running through the middle of the town, with splendid clear ■water, and we Have another nvcr crossing one of the main stieets, recommended by an engineer to supply the whole town, within almost every allotment in tlie town a good and never - failing well, whilst many hive both wells' and tanks containing thousands of gallons. Then, again, we have the springs that were represented at the meeting as being sufficient to supply the town <it the opposite side of the town. 1 ' Then, again we had our beautiful lake in the lieait of the town of pure spring water, almost sufficient . to supply the town, until the Town Board, in spite of all the uitepayers could do or say, tinned the washings of the streets and lanes into it, and polluted its waters with filth, and now they say that people die from using bad water, and are dying from this cause in Cambridge. Now, I do not know of any duty Avater here but the lake that they defiled, and they jtiow turn round and ask the ratepayers to vote for a tax on themselves for forty years, to replace what they have by their acts destroyed. Who have the people to blame for dirty water ? Is it not the Town Boar 1. After all this, will the ratepayers vote money into the hands of these men ? They may perhaps turn round and say, as they said betoi c, that they have the" power in | their own hands, and if it .pleases them they a\ ill turn the sewage of the town into our new water supjjly. lam much mistaken if the people do not show the Town Board on the day of the voting, by the way they record their, votes, that they must, and will be consulted in a,mattcr ef such gre'ajt importance to the people as destroying such a beautiful sheet of pure water, , and that they have not forgotten this high • handed act. I have spoken to a great many of the people here, and from all they say, not more than one in twenty would either take the water or pay for it if it were brought into the town, for they have plenty free ; but if a water-rate 'is forced on us, let it be for works' that 'will benefit the Whole town, not the lower flat only. Ido not know a better plan ,to find out whether a watei 1 supply is really requited or not, than for th 6 board to ask the ratepayers to allow them to levy a special small rate to pay a thoroughly 1 competent engineer to draw 1 plans and' make 1 a complete Retailed report of 'costs', machinery, &c, and let this plan be sueh 1 that every householder in Cambridge will be equally benefited by it,' and 'let it be* put' before the ' public ratepayers and adopted, .and then I' say with confidence* that the money will be voted for it if required. " But we' 'do' not want' half a. ' loaf, for one part of the town dud no bread for , the other, and I am'q' uite sure the people j will not vote money into, the hands of three or five men'untii they know what they are to get for it,' and liave ji to pay' rates f6r 40'ot"i!>0 years'/ and* also' lie" 'told that they can make by-laws, and charge tyhatevetf water-rate' r the y thinfe^p'ro > pef| , X you that'aW 'a little short of water for ,a' month' or tWo.in' ! tl|e year,' well just put 1 i y'oor-haiid l uito l yourownpoeket t , l rind buyV al>tank*and'put it,u;&y'at > ydai''chouse 1 ' or*. iwEatißibettet^iftkfVoatvfwdlte'va'vUifetl^ de'epe'rj yon will Jnaye plenty ' 6! waterVand' ; I-think' weMll heat'ttVihortrof *tn # water 4 itafaU 'Dtfiiot'tr^iip'ta* ybUi«]nWghbdurs J ftotb^gwater.itbityott^br^i'y;^ 1 get 1 1 I to come andfol&tf'Ou^yOur tanWforfypui r Just do it yourself ipl j am,;&or^ , - '---