The Star. WEDNESDAY, FEBBUABY 8, 1882.

Thk Watbb Supply Oommittiik of the Cilj | Council is still in existence. Oouncillo Hulbert secured thut information at th Council's last meeting; and his inquisitive nees elicited something moro. According t< Councillor Hiorns, the members of the Oom mittee had resigned themaolveß unto p atience fondly anticipating that when " tho drainage works wore a littlo moro advanced, th< citizona would come in a body and insist upoi something boing being done." The verdanci of tho expectation is only equalled by th< vivid groennosß of the neglected side cban nels ; and in each caße thero is an indicatcc muddineaa beneath the surface. It is consoling to find that tho proper sanitary remeds was forthcoming, Councillor Hulborfc vali antly undertaking to act as a sort of mental sweepor; and an important motion now stands on rocord for consideration at the Council's next meeting. That motion Ib as follows :— " That the Water Supply Committee take into their consideration the question of a sufficient water supply for the Oity of Ohristchurch." Tho motion aa it Btands ie ambiguous to a degree ; but we arc not on that account disposed to find fault with it, for the intontion is clear onough. The need of an efficiont water supply for thie city has long ago boen demonstrated ; and warnings of tho danger of delay como upon ua thick and fast. Tho latest of these havo beon the dißaetrouß Area at Invercargill and Giaborne, the laat-mentionod proving almost incrodibly destructive ; and— bb tho Council woro reminded— what happened at Giaborno may any day occur at Ohristchurch. It ie true tbat tho engineering genius of a Cherrill is not now included in tho city oonclavo ; if it ia, tho occasion has not yot arisen to call it forth. But with tho imraoußo amount of teohnical information now at tho disposal of tho Council, and tho numeroua outlines oi schemes in their poaaeasion, tho preparation of a proposal calculated to find genoral acceptance ought not to bo difficult. Aa wo have pointed out on formor occaaiona, there aro, in addition to tho genoral safety of proporty, varioua arguments which may be adduced for tho early proviaion of an efficient wator supply. Watering, channel cleansing, Firo Brigade maintenance, and othor reourring

barges, would be at any rate greatly reduoed ; a very appreciable reduotion in inßuranoe rates may be anticipated, and it is but reasonable to suppose that by the supply of water for motive power, the oity would soon be in possession of a satisfactory revenue. In brief, we are convinced that a really good water aupply may be obtained, at a yearly oost which would scarcely be felt by the ratepayers, and the advantage of which would immeasurably outweigh the required rating charge.