LYTTELTON WATER SUPPLY.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2855, 2 October 1874, Page 3

LYTTELTON WATER SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS

Sir,—Again the public of Lyttelton has been specially favoured with a thorough good down-pour of rain, and again, when the dry weather comes we shall hear the voice of the grumblers (or rather the water-lacking portion of the community of this town) crying out for nature's gift to cure their thirst; but while plenty abounds there is, as usual, no thought of preparation for the evil day, when a barrel of water is worth one shilling. But it would be no use writing to you in this strain, were it not possible to prevent a scarcity of this commodity in the ensuing season, for I am inclined to think that there was more depth in the remark that fell from one of the aspirants to civic honors at the last electiou. '«I say, get it from the elements," than the general public gave credit for. And I will now mention the remedy that I should have applied at the'commencement of the rainy season. JSupDose ihe whole

of the empty tanks, at present laying oa the reclaimed land, had been utilised in something like the followiug manuer. Instead of spending, say fifteen thousand poumis, in obtaining a water supply from Christchurch or elsewhere, if the authorities had supplied all the inhabitants (lacking them) with one tank, or accordiug to the number of people comprising the household, say two for large families, and have levied a rate for the recovery of their value, every careful person would thereby have secured sufficient water, by the help of occasional showers, to have listed them all through the dry season.

No doubt many who wi3h to go in for heavy concerns and a large outlay, will pooh-pooh at so simple a plan, but there is the property lying idle, and the house roofs ready to throw the water wherever spouting throws it, and thousands of gallons of water running away, with no means of catching it save the above.

In conclusion, I would just say that I have never been short of water the whole time I have been living in Lyttelton, and never had to complain at the quality of it, and I, like many other inhabitants, shall most persistently object te paying the enormous sum of £10 per annum for the supply of what we have already plenty of.

Hoping you will insert the above, Yours, Sec, Natural Resources. Lyttelton, September 30th.