DEPUTATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 986, 22 October 1870, Page 5

DEPUTATION.

A deputation from the City Council waited on His Honour the Superintendent on the 12th inst., with the object of conferring on the subject of a grant by the Government of a site for public baths. The deputation consisted of His Worship the Mayor and Mr Councillor Walter.

His Worship the Mayor said that they had waited on His Honour in order to ask him to represent to the Government the advisability of granting the Corporation a suitable site for the erection of public baths. There could not be two opinions as to the great necessity which existed for the establishment of such baths, but the Corporation found much difficulty in obtaining an eligible site. The only one at their disposal was one in the Octagon, but with that they found they should have to get their supply of water from the Waterworks Company, which company would not meet them in a liberal manner, inasmuch as whilst they were receiving a subsidy from the Government, they did not feel themselves justified in giving the water except they were paid for it. Now, if a piece of ground could be obtained near the Rattray street jetty, the water could be obtained from the "never-failing supply from the hill in Maclaggan street, and it depended in a great measure on His Honour the SuperI intendent and the Executive whether that could be attained. He [might impress on His Honour that the importance of baths to the city could not be over-estimated.

Mr Walter pointed out the advantage of the site as being near the shipping, and the great advantage and saving to be derived from getting the water free of expense. There was a never failing supply, and he calculated that there would be 19,000 or 20,000 baths let annually. His Honour thought the public ought to be very much obliged to the Deputa' tion for having brought such an important matter forward. He could not see why the Water Works Company should place any obstacle in the way, when the water would really cost them nothing. He thought that the Octagon was the better place for the baths. His Worship thought so too, but the Water Works Company did ask payment for the water.

Mr Waxter pointed out that another advantage in having the baths in the place indicated would be that it would be near the railway terminus. His Honour did not quite see that, as the baths were intended for the benefit of

the residents in the city. Ec asked what the extent of the site required might be.

Mr Walter said that the area of the swimming bath would be 60ft by 20ft. They would be satisfied with any place between the jetty and the gaol, and about half an acre there would be sufficient. An advantage would be that there would be a continual stream of water without the expense of laying pipes. His Honour said that the site was an expensive and valuable one, but that for euch a purpose he did not think a few pounds should stand in the way. There would be less difficulty in giving a piece of land, however, on the other side Jetty street.

His Worship remarked that that would be too much at one end of the town. They might, if there were any difficulty, give the Government a quid pro quo in the shape of earth from Bell Hill.

Mr_ Walter pointed out that in America and Europe, the Government subsidised baths, so thai they could be used by the public free.

His Honour promised to bring th 9 matter before the Executive at once> and let them know the result.

The deputation then thanked him and withdrew.