The oxford Obserber PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY JUNE 2nd, 1894. WATER SUPPLY.

Oxford Observer, Issue V, 2 June 1894, Page 2

oxford Obserber PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY JUNE 2nd, 1894. WATER SUPPLY.

We have waited long and anxiously for an opportunity to assure our readers that the long cherished idea of an adequate water supply for the District was an established fact, but alas, we learn nothing more from the report of the Board's last meeting, than, that the husiness has not yet advanced beyond the circumlocutory stage. The new Board commenced their duties under very discouraging circumstance (viz) a liability of about £2000 which has been incurred m procurring information which might have been got at current rates for about a couple of hundred, but the point now to be considered is not whether the ratepayers have got the value for the money for which they have become responsible, but the quickest and best method of discharging those liabilities, so far as the amount due to the Bank is concerned, that is not of much consequence as tbey can afford to wait, and -will take pretty, good care that. . they are paid for waiting but as it refers to

the Board's employees it must be a matter of grave inconvenience. The Legal : received from Messrs Garrick and .Co., is very clear oh this' head the Bpjurd avails itself of the authority to raise, the special, loanj there , is at present no , means, of raising ' money to pay liabilities already incurred." The. next paragraph refers ,tp;Jhe absurdity of the act which renders the Boord powerless to commit an act of justice (viz) to pay wages honestly earned and long overdue. The words are as follows. "It seems an absurd defect m the Act, that no provision should have been made for providing a fund to pay preliminary expenses." Very absurd indeed that men prone to just and benevolent actions should have their virtuous hands tied by legal enactments, but alas how very often are those bonds broken and risks of pains and penali* ties incurred when selt interests are brought into the balance. We hold that wages honestly earned whether by a minister of the Crown an Engineer or a Secretary to a School Committee should take precedence of all other liabilities and whether wifcheld by an individual 01 a collective body are equally reprehensible and members of public bodies, who wish to enjoy the esteem of their fellow men, should insist that their votes are publicly recorded. We think that the Board took a step m the right direction, when they approached the Premier, with a view of getting the very best engineering report upon the merits of the water-race scheme and no men *we believe are more competent to furnish that report than either Mr Gordon or Mr Gower. But that report once received will the Board accept it as an ultimatum and proceed to act upon it? We wish we could give an unreserved amwer m the affirmative, but when we consider that each member of that Board represents different sections of the ratepayers whose interest to say the least, are not identical, surely we have grounds for grave fear that the business of the Waimakariri water supply will be relegated to the redtape and circumlocution stages for an indefinite period. It will be noticed that the Board resolved to ask Parliament to pass an act to enable the Board to rate the District for the £2,000. That's all very well supposing the Act meets with no opposition m the House and will need some smart lobbying to cany it through. Other members will be present, who have some local interests to serve and on. the principle of I scratch you and you scratch me it may or may not be passed, and supposing it is, will the rate be quickly and inexpensively collected won't the ratepayers feel that they are unjustly treated by being charged for what they never got and some of them at least can say for what they never even asked for and is it not likely they will resort toall sorts of shifts and expedients to wriggle out of the payment of it. But supposing the rate to be expeditiously collected and outside liabilities discharged and the Water supply Act amended so as to leave no doubt as to the powers of the Board : Are the materials of that Board such as to work with one heart and one mind for Ihe common good ? Will each sink his own individuality and unselfishly bury for a time the thoughts of his own particular interest or that of his own particular riding. If not then it is the business of the Oxford Riding to seek a dissolution and look after its own particular interest, which it ought to have done from the first, instead of taking parteners into the scheme, who have been worse than useless, by introducing nothing but delays, embarrassments and complications. . So far as Oxford proper is conserned Mr Dobson demonstrated long ago that this portion of the District could *be watered effectually and cheaply from Coopers creek and he also shewed that an anxiliary race could be made from the tailwater of Gammon's creek and there is evidence that the Oxford Road Board were very favourably impressed with the scheme and a statement made by Mr Ryde as to the permanency of the supply should go a very long way towards its favorable consideration, t Considering ail the circumstances we

are bound to admit th_hjpH completion of the Rockford scheme is \ c y re wqp_ and.^even supposing it to be carried out:;.*we; believe, there will stifPbe;* necessity for the Cooper's 'creek., race. \ X/jWe _aye -just had a cycle of wet seasons and people's minds have been diverted from the importance of- a permanent water supply but wait _ wee, so sure as darkness follows day we shall bitterly lament not having' made a proper use ofthe bountiful water supply that a Is|nificent Providence ***■ has supplied us with. - „