Correspondence.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1983, 13 September 1869, Page 3

Correspondence.

[We are not responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.] PORT CHALMERS WATER SHPPLY. (To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sm, —In your issue of the 9th iust., you seem to understand that it is in consequence of the change which has taken place in the Port Chalmers Town Council, caused by the late election, that has been chiefly instrumental in overthrowing the water scheme. I think, Mr Editor, it would have been well before publishing the article in question, that you had made yourself fully acquainted with the facts of the case, which are as follows : Some time ago, Mr George Murray came down with a proposition to the Council (unasked for by them) that he would take in hand to introduce water into the town for the suptdy of “George street and the shipping, only.” for the sum of eight thousand pounds, he being willing to take our debentures at 75, and also to pay us L2OO per annum for the use of the Jetty water. There were three members of the Council in favor of the scheme at that time, and, fearing the Council would run too hurriedly into the proposed scheme without due consideration, I moved that a commit f ee be appointed to examine into the matter and bring up a report ; that report was never brought up during the sitting of former Council, showing that the “measure” was anything but “favorably entertained,” which you seem to suppose it was. The subject was again brought up by one of the present councillors, a little modified, viz., that Mr Murray would take our debentures at par, and wou'd tahe a lease of the works for seven years, paying us the sum of L 560 annually. Having spent some time in investigating into the matter, prior to this, as one of the Committee, and also privately, I could see that the town was not sufficiently advanced to warrant any sensible body of men to favor such a scheme upon such an outlay of borrowed capital, and consequently spoke against the motion then before the Council. When we come to consider that the poor man here is paying more for coals delivered than what they can he supplied for in Dunedin, in consequence of the town not being opened up in the way of road-making, perhaps it would be mope prudent for the Council to turn their attention towards the latter improvement, By doing so they will enhance their rates, and probably be in a much better position at the end of that seven years to entertain Mr George Murray’s scheme.

William Earnie. Port Chalmers, 10th Sept., 1869.