OUR WATER SUPPLY. WHAT THE UNDER WORLD THINKS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 14 September 1908, Page 2

OUR WATER SUPPLY. WHAT THE UNDER WORLD THINKS.

The appended contribution arrived too late for publication in "Weekly Whispers" on Saturday : — Dear Moff., — Such fun; the Waterworks family is so cliquy, you know, they look down on me because they say I rame into the family through the back door. What about tbat? I was paid for in the end, and it wasn't my fault. They had to swallow their pride, though, and ask "the young person" to write for them, as I was the only one that had a pen. Between ourselves, Moff., they are not so religious up here as they make out. The language that New Dnm has used since he heard be was to be left empty has been awful, and since last Friday, when the Mayor and Cr. Gra^e said he was "unsafe, well, a visitor here yesterday said it smelt sulphury, just like Rotorua. The New Dam says that the old waterworks dam, pipes, reticulation, and all that the Bishop blessed cost under twenty thousand pounds, and that he cost twelve thousand pounds alone, more than half as much. You can't argue with him, his temper has been so bad lately. You can't blame him, though. We are always polite to him. You saw by the inquiry how he was dragged up — no supervision, such an example to Nelson parents, we say ! I really think life is a failure. Here I am dav after day telling how much water is going to waste and no ono takes any notice of me except Cr. Field sometimes. lam like George Washington and one of the ex-council-lors — I can't lie, unless my "innards" co wrong. I admit exaggerating a little, and that there are only .14,000 i gallons an hour going to waste instead of 22.000 an hour, as I said at first. I The Engineer said last Friday, I heav, that there must be a pipe unstopped somewhere, running out night and day, full bore. I was going to tell you where it is. but the others up here say it would be unprofessional. What is the good of the Mayor and Councillors but to find these things out? I wish they would worry over that instead of worrying me, especially that Cr. Turner, since he built that sheep dio. he knows too much for us. I wouldn't obiect to Brook-street Valley for him ; thene aro t-honsajnds of pounds worth of water going to waste every year. The others say up here that that young person (meaning me) is a dreadful gossip telling things night and day and no respecter of dignities. I do tell things, but just in the way of business. T never had the chance to gossip. You should just hear the water-pipes though ; you put your ear to them. Of course you couldn't .understand them; they go into everyone's house, and the tales they tell us ! It would tickle you to death to hear them. That old scarecrow the first dam, although she is so proud, encourages thera at it. I feel nuite ashamed of her, though ; 6he is always talking of what the Bishop said. There's that worn-out distributing Basin abovo me asking if I haven't sent I that letter yet. I am sending it. through the pipes to. you, Moff. Won't there be a row here if you print this ! 1 But I don't care. lam cast-iron. It might do these old antiquities good to hear what I think of them. Moff.. did you ever hear the story of? — ohj bother, there's the headsman ; . the rest next year. Good-bye. I am. etc., THE WATER-METER.