The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-27 00:00:00

YOUR REPORTER.

TILE METROPOLITAN WATER SUPPLY

COMMITTEE.

Yesterday this committee re-assembled at twelvo
o'clock, Sir James Graham in the chair ; and, in the county
of the proceedings, a discussion took place upon an applica-
tion relative to the right of the public, as contra-dis-
tinguished from that of the several opposing companies, to
be heard in opposition to the government bill.
Mr. J. Heron, Town-clerk of Manchester, was cross-exa-
mined at great length by Mr. Talbot, Q.C., on behalf of
the metropolitan water companies. The proposed supply
by the Corporation Waterworks, when completed, would
be equivalent to 25 million cubic feet daily ; the present
supply was 10 million cubic feet daily, and there would be
no difficulty in finding a dentand for the other 13 millions,
as they had been applied to during the last few months fur
supplies for trading purposes, which they could nut meet.
Was of of opinion that water, in a place like Manchester.
could never be effectually distributed without what was
coiled a compulsory rate; and he would apply the same
principle to the water supply of London. nene was a
clause in the government bill (the 35th clause) such as he
had not seen before in any ordinary water bill, giving this
' species of power to the parish officers who, with the consent
of the vestry, might require the inhabitants to procure a
supply of water where it could be furnished :it a rate not
c :moiling 2d. per week.
Mr. Vaughan, on behalf of the inhabitant ratepayers
of St. Luke's, Finsbury, was about to eruis-esamine the
witness, when
Mr. James, Q.C., on behalf of the promoters of the go-
vernoent bill, objected to his locus :Wadi. _

After some'disZussion, the committee retired to consider
the application, and after a short interval returned, when
The Hon. Chairman said—The committee have come to
the unanimous decision that Mr. Vaughan has a loose
standi on behalf of the ratepayers and inhabitants of St.
Luke's, but the committee expect him in hit opposition to
the bill to confine himself to the negative of the proposi-
tion for which Mr. James contends, viz., that this bill is the
measure most advantageous to the public, and not to sustain
any other project not submitted to the committee. The com-
mittee further think it right to take this precaution—that if
other inhabitants of the metropolis should appear by petition
before the house, and if these petitions should be referred to
us, and other counsel should appear for the inhabitants, the
same rule should be applied as the committer have deter-
mined should be applied to counsel appearing for the differ-
ent water companies, viz., that there should only be unc cross-
• .

Mr. Heron was then erase-examined by Mr. Vaughan as
to the nature and extent of the juri.dictiou of the corpora-
tion of Manchester. Tho principle of imposing a water
rate on rooms as proposed in the government bill was un-
known in the north, where it was levied at so much per
cent. on the rental, and he was of opinion that the assess-
ment per room hunted of per rental was calculated in some
instances to produce injustice.
Mr. Toulmin Smith, on behalf of the London (Watford)
Spring Water Company, was about to cros•ecxnutine the
witness, when
Mr. James objected.
. _

After considerable discussion the committee decided, on
the grounds before stated, that Mr. Smith, in any optima-
tionhe had to offer, must consolidate it with the other com-
panies. and that they would consider the other question re-
lating to the order of reference of the house of atli June
when the case for the government bill was conciuded.
The witness was then further examined by the com-
mittee, and deposed that the result of taking the water
supply of Manchester imo the hands of the corporation had
been satisfactory to the great body of the ratepayers
throughout the municipality. Had no doubt, from a know-
ledge of the trades of Manchester and Salford, that the
supply of water from the high level would be calculated to
supersedt manual labour, mid that the water supply would
be made largely available for hydrostatic engines, for
raising goods, grinding coffee, and other tws, thereby
crocrakc
facilitating as well as superseding manual labour..
Mr. James Hossitsr, Secretary to the Southwark and
Vauxhall Water Company, was next called and examined
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