The Star. THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1904. CITY AFFAIRS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8003, 5 May 1904, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1904. CITY AFFAIRS.

The speech with which Mr C. M. Gray marked his installation as Mayor of Christchurch last night ,was confined practically two subjects— finance and water. The Mayor thinks that the time has arrived when some readjustment of the city's finances should be undertaken, and we agree with him. The present deficiency of £20,195 is ioo large to be carried as an overdraft, and, in any case, it seems to us that certain items in it should be capitalised and paid oiit of Joan moneys. Permanent works, such as the electrical plant, and property, such as recreation grounds, might with reason be charged to capital. But the principal portion of the Mayors address was devoted to the question of a water-supply. Undeterred by* the fate of the scheme submitted to the electors by the Council last summer, his Worship now prc-^ poses to bring forward a fresh one. The new scheme is on much smaller lines than the one of which the electors disapproved last February. It is designed "to provide only the central ward. — that is, the old City of Ohristchurch — with* a high-pressure water-supply. As the Mayor has asked that criticism of his scheme should be withheld until details of it are published, it would be out of place here to discuss the project in the form in which it was laid b fore the Council last' evening. But, speaking generally, we may be allowed to say that the need' of a high-pressure water-supply is as great to-day as it ever was. As the Mayor said last night; it is necessary for" street- watering, for fire prevention, for . sanitary purposes, and, we may add, it would be welcomed by many for domestic / purposes. The scheme provide for utilising the flow from the present municipal wells and for sinking additional wells, if necessary, and for pumping the flow into a water tower in order to obtain the necessary pressure. The cost is estimated at £51,000, and the annual expenditure, including interest, at £3560. On the other hand, the cost of public services, which is now some £4000 a year, would be reduced materially, the efficiency of the Fire Brigade would be greatly increased, and an important saving would be effected in fire insurance rates. Altogether, the Mayor calculates that the gain to the city under the items mentioned would be £6443, leaving a net gain of nearly JJ3OOO a year. So long as the. supply was sufficient for the purposes mentioned, the question of financial advantage would be of secondary consideration. The electors would be quits content if the scheme paid its way. This, however, is one /of the matters for future consideration. 'For the present we must be content with merely expressing our satisfaction) 'that the Mayor has not allowed- the question of a water-supply to rest. •