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Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 31, 9 August 1851, Page 6

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Ti mes Sir,—l should be extremely sorry to ,) any obstacle in the way of a kiuhhlA i * taking, not doubting bit that theTnl* l**mittee " are acting with sincerity ai t 'M?" best of their knowledge, in the mlCtC^ have taken in hand ; but after what appea P y your last Saturday's Journal, I really X!" they would pause ere they attempted to W any portion of the fund, for either •' lire-el ?l or buckets, but if I did not misunderstand 0 1 orders given to the cooper about an I? ago, they are intending to do so, and if tIJ!T I fear that they will ultimately find %» have done wrong, for I well know that there?/ more than myself who entirely approve of tl suggestions thrown out by Mr. Yorke to Z committee,' and especially in his view «that i? will be a waste of money to build a fire-en nine" and if I may be allowed to follow the exanini of" Midshipman Easy" in this matter i£n be very happy to « argue the point" with anY ' the committee, or other persons who may Inn pen to differ with me in opinion upon this hf portant subject, knowing that every sensible person will leave himself open to conviction. Sir, allow me to inform you, that this very i subject to which you have drawn public atten- ' tion, has for a considerable time past afforded me ! a little fund for agreeable reflection, as to the i mind of man, when occupied in contemplating with a hope of seeing some day completed, that ■ which will benefit the community of which heis a member, such thoughts cannot fail of yielding pleasing sensations, however limited the sphere 1 of operation of the individual whose mind is thus i employed ; under this impression permit me to ! give a brief outline of my cogitations. , j It seems to me quite practical and proper to have a reservoir, the place I would suggest is the stream adjacent to Mr. Alport's new house, yet at a considerable elevation above it, this stream commands the greatest elevation in the same distance of any of the streams, and affords a direct short course to the centre of the town, here also nature has laid an excellent foundation for art, the subsoil being principally clay, well adapted for puddling the dam, and close at hand are plenty of stones suitable for constructing the embankment. Owing to these favourable circumstances, it appears to me that 100/. would construct a reservoir capable of meeting the wants of the inhabitants during the next summer, yet this computation, as well as any other upon the same subject, may be wrong, owing to the probable variable circumstances which it is impossible to foresee, and take into consideration; neither is it necessary to enter into minute circumstances, until some other course is decided upon than that of making a "fire-engine," yet a few hints will suffice to those who really have, or feel an interest in the matter, to gather the outlines of the project. If a reservoir was constructed as proposed, it would give command over a great volume of water, many feet above the level of the town, then it is easy to imagine how readily it might be conveyed into every dwelling, so that every house in the town might be deluged with water in a few minutes if required. Only consider for a moment what might be accomplished by such a pressure of water, simply conveyed by piping with stop-cocks, connected to main piping laid through the streets, every house and every room in the house, might have water ready for instant use under any emergency, aim with a power and efficiency that no fire-engine here constructed would effect. Let Mr. Yorkes principle be carried out as it ought to be, arm then, firemen, fire-engines, and insurances, may be safely dispensed with. Has not Dame Mature in making these lofty mountains that, uejn in Lyttelton, (like the side of a funnel,) sun kept her old course ? are not they by art supservient to the power of man, who with skji and perseverance may yet render them aval - able to his interest ? and what can be of gveatei importance to the townsfolk of Lyttelton, tuan a supply of good water for the if thirsty days o summer," and in such a manner of acconimocu tion and security to their property, that loss ) fire will be next to impossible ? I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, ' J OBSERVER' Lyttelton, Aug. 4, 1851.