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Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4506, 3 February 1872, Page 3

A mbktini? of the Water Supply Committee of the Cifcy Council was hold yesteiday foreuoou. There were present the Mayor, Councillors Smait, Tonka, Macready, and Isaacs. Mr, Brogden, Mr. Henderson, and Mr. C. O'Neill, C.E., were also in attendance. The Mayor stated the object of the meeting, when Mr. Brogden asked what powers the Council had to incur an outlay for a water supply.— Tho Mayor stated that the powers theyhad were conveyed under the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Act, 1871, of the Geneial Assembly. — Mr, Broqden asked what amount of water would be required, and over what area it would have to be distributed. — The Mayor replied that the City Council could only at present treat for the city inhabitants, but hoped arrangements would be made\ to enable them to include the suburbs. Jleference was made by the Mayor to the Acts passed by the Provincial Council relative to the construction of waterworks, and the powers which they confer) ed fully explained. He thought that the least quantity of water that would provide an adequate supply would be 600,000 gallons per diem. That would provide about 30 ga'Jons per head for a population of 2i>,000. — Mr. Brogden replied that he did not want to undertake the management and maintenance of the water works. He wanted to undertake and complete the works satisfactorily upon some definite agreement, 80 that they could be afterwards banded over to the City Corporation or a company. He did not intend to take the water into every house, but would bring the water into the city and lay the necessary mainß. He would require some security in the shape of a city rate, levied for this purpose, be was willing to supply that quantity of water for the city, and wanted the City Council to state what sum they would be willing to pay for this supply. A clause could be inserted in the agreement if come to, giving power for the city to purchase the works and plant at a reasonable price at the expiration of seven, 10, 14, or 21 yeais; or he would be willing to receive a certain interest upon the outlay required, and the City Corporation to have the right to purchase as in the form proposed. — In the general conversation which ensued, reference was made to the various sources of supply, and Mr. Brogden seemed, from what he had heard and read, to have a strong leaning to the Waitakere district; for a permanent anpply. Respecting the preliminary surveys, Ac., Mr Brogden said his own staff would execute them, and he asked of the meeting, in the event of some definite agreement being come to out of the present negotiations, to be allowed three months to make the requisite preliminary investigations, and otherwise make,, arrangements for the works. Mr. 'Brogden and party then retired, and the members of the committee pontinued the meeting fpr oome time longer.

It was Mate! that Mr. Crvrruthers, Colonial Engineer, and other yeutlem.ui hail gone out lo the Waitakere distiicfc that morning, and tbat three men in the employ of the City Council had been sent out on the previous evening to make the necessary preparations to enable Mr. C.irruthers to thoroughly S*uge the flow of water. It wan also agreed that tho members of the Water Supply Committee should go out to the same district on Tuesday morning to examine the place for themselves.