PARNELL WATER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6362, 8 April 1882, Page 5

PARNELL WATER SUPPLY.

TO THE KUITOR. Sir,—The Borough Council of Parnell ere about to pass a resolution to borrow the sum of £14,000 to squander on a scheme to supply I'arnell with drainage, and water from Mr, Seccomhe's well. lam surprised that the so-called sensible men who represent the borougli should try to foist such a scheme on the ratepayers, when they must have known of the great failure that was made by the city of Auckland in supplying Queen-street from Seccombe's well. Seceombe's water supply was inadequate to supply a very small portion of the inhabitants, and was totally unable to put out tho smallest fire that took place at that time. Yet the councillors of I'arnell want the borough to commit the same fault, and throw away the ratepayers' money the same as the city has done. If they lay claim to any sense they would surely take advantage of their neighbour's experience. The councillors of Parnell say that Mr. Seccombe's water supply is sulticient for the present population of Parnell, but they forget in the next ten years the probability is, the population will be four times as many ; also, if Mr. Seccombe's water supply was insufficient to put out fires in the low level of Queen-street, how can they expect it to be of any use at the higher levels of the middle and top Ot the Manukau-road. As regards the underground drainage scheme, if; means that the working man of Parnell will have to pay for the lazy and dirty habits the so-called better classes indulge in, in having their water-closets inside their houses, and often next to their bedrooms, which is often the source of typhoid fever to the weaker members of the family. Also, in running the sewage of Paruell into the harbour, spoiling their beautiful bays—St. George's Bay and Judge's Bay—making them a loathsome nuisance like the intake at the bottom of Queen-street, and endangering the health of the inhabitants who reside at lower portions of Parnell. Talk of doing this drainage work for the health of Parnell! Why, it is only moving the seeds of disease from one part of Parnell to another. No, Mr. Editor; we had better remain as we arc than waste our money, to have to spend the same amount in a few years, in order to rectily the mistakes of our wise councillors 01 Parnell. The cheapest and best mode ot drainage would be channelling with cement the side channel and existing drams, which could be done with the present funds ot the borough. The expense of connecting each of the different propeities with the underground drainage, &c, would be i'S or £-i outlay, which money would enable the poor man to buy a water tauk or two to supply him with pure water from heaven. Apologising for the length of this letter,—l am, &c, Parneli, April 5, ISS2. John Savagk.