THE COUNCIL AND THE WATER SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 103, 2 May 1890, Page 2

THE COUNCIL AND THE WATER SUPPLY.

As the Councillors who voted a fortnight ago for the concession of water rights ove r Edgecumbe's Creek to Mossrs Jagger and Parker for £5 a-year havo turned right-about-face, and last night moved in a diametrically opposite direction, we are nob disposed to quarrel very seriously with them because the movement in Eome instances wa? executed with v very bad grace. We admit that the operation was an exceedingly disagreeable one,and wry faces were excusable. But a word or two of advice may not be lost upon those worthy gentlemen who affected such a lofty contempt for public opinion. It would have been very much moro to the purpose if, instead of the clumsy attempt to kick up dust enough to cover their retreat, they had made even a decent effort to answer the objections which have been publicly urged against their previous action in this matter, and especially if they had explained why ib was intended to part with tho water right for "a song" privately, before the Corporation lands abutting upon tho creek were put up for lease.

It ie a very poor case that will nob stand public discussion, and this transaction disappeared before the first breath of criticism. Gentlemen who claim to have so thoroughly satisfied themselves with regard to the merits of the case, that they felt justified a fortnight ago in voting down the report of the committee to whom the question had been twice referred, should have had some better defence to make for their conduct than mere braggadocio. However, " All's well that ends well," and we have no doubt that the lesson of this curious little opisodo in city affairs will have a salutary influence upon the future action of our Council hi relation to the water supply.