WATER SUPPLY FOR MILTON.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2183, 15 July 1890, Page 3

WATER SUPPLY FOR MILTON.

To the Editor. Sir, — I am not astonished at the decision of the Milton Borough Council to let the water-supply question drop. But there is one thing in the report of the meeting at which this decision was reached I would like to see explained. It is stated that the right to the source of supply cannot be obtained from Mr M'Gill without guaranteeing him a certain pressure. Mr M'Gill has, I presume, a cliim to the water for a certain distance from his mill, but surely he cm have no claim to the water say 8 or 10 miles distant from the town. Within that distance, however long or short it may be, his only legal status is use and wont. Supposing that the stream were tapped at some distance from Milton for the Milton watersupply or any other legitimato purpose, I do not see that any objection raised by Mr M'Gill would legally stand. And he would have the advantage of the water flowing through the by-wash, which I imagiae wouM be enough -'it tnojt se.isoas of the year to serve his purposes. Even if it were not, he has steam power, and the question of supplying a town like Milton with pure water is of much mure public importance than is the running of a private industry. I should be sorry f.ir Mr M'Giil to be iv any way inconvenienced, but my impression is that both his purposes and the convenience of Milton c.mld be served from the same source — if not, theu private interests ought to give way to public advantage, — I am, &c, Watkkspuut. To tue Editor. Sir, — It seems to me astonishing that the Borough Council should have come to such a hasty decision with regard to the watersupply business, just because Mr Barr's estimate of the cost seemed to them rather much. Further enquiries should have been made, and it is not too late to do so now. I do not care what Mr Barr or anybody else may say, I am confident that the thing can be done for a lot less than the big sums meutioued by Mr Barr. Milton is by no means unfavorably situated for a supply by gravitation, and I feel sure that what has been done by other towns of similar size, and no more favourably situated, without burdening themselves with heavy debt, can be done by Milton, if only the authorities and the burgesses agree to make the attempt. Rio far really nothing hua boun done. I saw from the first that the Council was disinclined to thoroughly consider the question, and very much regret that they have shelved the matter in the way they have done. — I an), etc., GUAVITATION. To THE EOITOK. Sir,— l do not wonder that the Milton Borough Council has jibbed on the water supply business seeing what a large sum it will cost to bring it iv with a good pressure. It would be out of the question to play into the hands of Mr M'Gill and bring it iv at any pressure h;; wants, and much higher than he gets now. If both the gravitation and artesian supply are found impracticable or too costly, I would suggest that the method adopted at lnvercargill be considertd—that a tower be erected below the mill and the water from the river pumped up into it by sleam power. The Council might put themselves into communication with the Invercargill Council, and get some details as to cost, &c, which would no doubt be cheerfully given. I might add that the initial oost would bear no proportion to that at Invercargill as no well would be needed, — I am, &c, AyuA.