WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 58, 9 March 1911, Page 5

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

.TO THE EOITfIE

.Sir,, —Your .estimable .correspond-; jauty "JTaeyeiy .in your issue of last; evening, sets .out -.vith. tlie intehtkm i .of ..throwing cold water on the jpro-l jposal of .the Borough Council t6 giv.e! us wJaat we want and what \v;e riiu&t' and will have—a water-supj)jy and; scheme,; . but Ins' letter; will convince nobody. He adduces! no arguments .against the scheme, j •hut simply says that the ratepayers jj .are asked' to '"'mortgage .their proper-j! ty to .the extent of £65,000 in order; .to provide pressure water-supply I .and drainage. 1' .1 should like to; .ask 'Uacyell" if it is not worth > £65,000 .to have .the town provided with a jjroper system of water .and. similar to .that possessed by ■ .other towns? J,t cannot be done .for! Jess, and it is absolutely necessary if i the town is to he made up-to-date: .ajxd not continue .to be a badly-1 watered, .undrained .village. "Jaiy-i ©11" talks .glibly of ''care on the jpar±| oi" ihe residents." .being an efficient; substitute for up-to-date sanitation,, I and the muxiicipalisation of the' nightsoil business. This latter sug-j gestion may he .all very well until we \ get a proper system, and I i consider that iL shcuild bo at onoej carried into effect, notwithstanding; that the Borowgh will have to pay; the amount xeQ.uirad over .and above what is collactod from the householders, which, is limited by statute. But who will say that this is a proper substitute for ,a water and drainage system saich as is proposed ? How does "Jacjell's" .suggestion answer the argument—one of the strongest arguments in fayor of the proposal—that w» are sadly in need of water for use In fighting fire? Will the sanitary Inspector's periodical visits or Borough yojiures de 'vidange (I thank jou, Sir, for this phrase!) extinguish an outbreak of fire which is consuming half the town? By all means let .us tfollow the example of Christekureh., VutJet us do it now, and not wait until our population is the same as hers., Which !» "over 20,000"— nearly 4©,000 i<3f pr 1 Christchurch has a drainage itfOkeme similar to that proposed for iß'ienheim, but on a much larger .sod|e, of course. With regard to "i-jj^eyell's" motor-car, let him pro.ouiseiit, as.many other worthy men have- done, on the time-payment systefu. We are not asked to plank down'•>.£6s,ooo for our water and drainage scheme straightway, but wttl p,a,y for it gradually, year by year; imping the benefit from it the white

ELCYJAY