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Lyttelton Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1098, 20 May 1863, Page 4

The Town of Christchurch is taking form and shape rapidly. The exterior is being decently whitewashed ; but there is a story of neglected dirt which though not always revealed to the eyes of passers by is often smelt out by them. The approaching winter, -Trith its accompanying rains, will do much to make us forget the want of a water supply for a time, while the self-congratulations of the town councillors on the improvement of the streets will, we fear, tend to put out of their heads the most important duty they have to perform.

It is to be hoped that another session of the Provincial Council will not pass without some effort being made to secure the means for supplying water to our chief town in such a manner as to secure cleanliness and facilitate drainage. All over the town of Christchurch there is a deficiency of good wholesome drinking water; and except along the banks of the river, there is a scarcity of water for ordinary purposes of cleanliness or for the supression of fire. "We do not expect that the Provincial Council will give the Municipality more money than has already been agreed on. The liberal vote for constructing the streets and for surface drainage is as much as the Municipal Council can expect out of provincial revenue. We believe that a rate-payer's roll is now being made out, and it is certain that a very moderate rate would even now give £2000 a year. Now, we hope that the whole of this income will not be expended on current necessities. So long as the Council are expending the grant from the Provincial Council, they will not want much more for street formation. By and bye the rates will be much more productive. But if the town is to take its place at once as a desirable residence, money must at once be raised, on the security of the rates, for obtaining a constant and ample supply of good water, from such an elevation as to be available to the tops of the houses. Have the Municipal Council yet considered a scheme for supplying Christchurch with water ? and, if so, are they prepared to introduce a bill into the Council in the ensuing session, authorising them to raise money for that purpose ? Water is the first essential to health, and a supply is necessary before elaborate drainage can be thought of. The people of Christchurch are quite willing to pay for it.