THE RESERVOIR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7568, 20 May 1886, Page 3

THE RESERVOIR.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The disclosure in your issue of Friday, as set forth iv Mr Clifford's letter to all the Councillors, with reference to the state of the Ross Creek Reservoir, is simply appalling. To think that for one moment the lives of some hundreds of the people should be in such jeopardy, is fearful to contemplate. The City Council have had timely intimation of the state of affairs, and when the water in the Reservoir was so low, that the question as to whether it was actually a leak or otherwise might have been ascertained in a day, with very little trouble, and no cost; instead of which the Council have chosen to allow it to fill to overflowing without taking any steps in the matter, so that now it has become dangerous in the extreme.

Warning upon warning has been given with reference to the state of this embankment, but apathy and indifference is the ruling motto of those whose special duty it is to see to such matters, aud it may now culminate in a catastrophe, without a minute's notice; and when we consider for a moriient what took place in the bursting of the Bilberry Reservoir, through which ninety people were drowned, aud property to the amount of half a million destroyed, and again at Sheffield, when 250 persons were swept away and drowned, arid property to the amount of two millions destroyed, in both of which cases there was no warning. Th.2refore, with these facts before us, it behoves instant action to be taken. Perhaps before this appears in print it may be too late, and should such a disaster occur, will not Mr Clifford's assertion that the Councillors are morally guilty of manslaughter be justified?—l am, &c,

Aquarius.

Dunedin, May 18th