THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1872.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IX, Issue 2684, 4 September 1872, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1872.

The discussions iu the House of Assembly in respect to the conduct of Government have, of course, prevented the general business of legislation being proceeded! with. Such bills as the Auckland Waterworks Act have had to remain without any attempt, being made to consider them. Useful legislation of this kind must naturally wait; the result of debates, having for their object the tranference of power, from one set of men to another. The bill in question aims at being a comprehensive measure. It is, of course, based on similar Acts already in force. It will give the Municipal Corporation of Auckland, if we assume that it will pass, full power to provide an ample aupply of water for the city and adjoining suburbs. Power is given to purchase lands, sink wells, impound and divert water from any stream, enter upon and use land -within a- circle' of twenty-five miles measured from-'the°do'or of tne priii- : cipal Post Office within the city of Auckland. But compensation must be made for any damage done in the

exercise of these powers, both in regard to land and water. If the parties cannot agree as to the amount of compensation to be paid, this shall be settled under the provisions of the Land Clauses Consolidation Act, 1863. After any stream within the district has been taken by the Council under tins Act, it will be unlawful for any person to divert or take away any of the water thereof. The borrowing power is fixed at not exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, and the debentures may be made redeemable in fifty years. Provision is also given to borrow at a lower rate of interest than that paid at any particular time, the money thus borrowed being applied to cancelling an equal amount of the debt.

Then comes the power of taxation to raise the money necessary to pay interest and charges. There may be levied a special anuual water-rate nofc exceeding two shillings in the. pound of the annual valuo of the rateable property witln'n the city. This rate will be payable half-yearly by the ratepayers after the issue of any debentures under the Act. The waterrate, or special charge for the use of water, will ba 10s. per annum, for buildings let at a rental not exceeding £12 10s. a year. On a rental or annual assessment of not more than £1.00, the rate is not to exceed 7 per cent. ; where the annual value is between £100 and £200, the rate is not to exceed 6 per cent.; when it is between £200 and £300, the rate is 5 per cent..; and between £400 and £500, it is 4- per cent. If there are buildings within one hundred yards from any water-pipes, to which, water might be laid on, but is not, half the above rates are to be charged, while all buildings used for any other purpose than dwelling-houses, must pay at the rate of 2-i- per cent, on the assessed annual value. Any dwellinghouse unoccupied for not less than six months, will be only charged ab the rate of 2£ per cent, per annum, if proper notice be given of its being unI occupied.

The pipes are at all times to be kept charged with water. This is a most important provision. A continuous supply is 3, necessity in a climate like this, and especially at night, for fires ; but experience proves that under a continuous supply a very large quantity of water is wasted, even where special inspectors are paid to regularly visitall places supplied with water, and examine taps and pipes, so as to stop any unnecessary leakage. Provision is of course made to punish those who wilfully waste the water, but tens of thousands of gallons may be daily wasted without it being possible to prevent such a state of things. Water may be supplied—if we read the Act aright —by meter, and this plan is undoubtedly the best wherever it can be adopted. It prevents a great deal of waste; consumers pay for what they use, and they will therefore be somewhat careful in their use of the water. The penalty for wilfully wasting the water is any sum not exceeding £20. The Council may supply water to places within the district outside the city boundaries. Persons supplied with water under the Act must deposit the cost of laying pipes from the main to the premises, and provide necessary taps at their own cost; but they will also be at liberty to remove them again upon giving fourteen days' notice of their wish to do so. "WTien water from the pipes is used for extinguishing fires in any building insured against loss or damage, the Council shall be entitled to recover from the Insurance Company interested in the insured property a sum equal to five per cent, upon the full value of all salvage effected by the use of the water.

Such, are the main provisions of the Bill as regards the supply of water, the powers of the Council under the Act, and the payments to be made by ratepayers. The suburban districts will doubtless be gradually supplied with water by the Corporation, more especially those portions of them lying nearest to the boundaries of the city. But it is quito evident that many of the ratepayers in some of these districts will not want any water from the Council; their wells and tanks give them an abundant supply of that neceesarv article of life.

The last clause of the Bill, the eightieth, provides that it shall not come into operation untiLthe expiration of three calendar months after it has passed the Houses of the Legislature ; but if within two mouths of its having been passed, a majority of ratepayers qualified to vote in the election of councillors, shall, by notice in writing, require that its coining into operation shall be further suspended, the Governor, upon being notified by the Mayor to that effect, shall, by proclamation in the New Zealand Gazette, suspend the operation of the Act until the end of the then next session of the General Assembly. The ratepayers, therefore, have ample power to prevent any hasty measures being taken under the Act. But we do not see that any good would be obtained by any such delay. An ample supply of water is required, both for domestic use, for manufactories, and for extinguishing fires. There will of necessity be a good deal of grumbling in regard to the water . rate. Additional tares, even in order to obtain a great good, are not generally very cheerfully paid. But water must be had, and before it can be obtained in quantity a large sum of money must be expended, the interest on which must be paid. Auckland is a marvel to strangers from tb.6 Australian Colonies who visit us. They cannot understand why our streets are so indifferent, our footpaths so abominable, the > supply of water left dependent on wells, whose contents must necessarily! be more or less impure j and with nuisances of all kinds abounding,, to the detriment of the health., of the people generally. Each doubtless, witness a greafc ; improvement in regard, matters. But local self-government, with ample powers, will give us a cleaner, healthier, and pleaaanter city, and our harbour will be vastly ina-

."proved, to the benefit of, trade and .; commerce and the welfare of the com'munity generally.' > . , ■ • ■ ■ ■' — : — ; —<»— ; —