Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-07-26 00:00:00

WATER COMMITTEE.

The weekly meeting of the Water Committee was held
yesterday, Mr. Hodson in the chair. , The other members
of the committee present were : Messrs. C. Turner, Crellin,
Farnworth, Riley, Rae, Bennett, Wagstaff, and Woodruff,
The engineer reported that the rainfall for the week had
been 0.92 inches, and the depth of water in the Roddles-
worth and Prescot reservoirs had increased respectively 0.74
inches and 1.5 inches. There was a fall of 5.10 inches in
the Rake reservoir, 0.10 in the Anglezark reservoir, and
1.212 inches in the Rivington reservoir.
In answer to Mr. Bennett, Mr. RAE, the chairman of the
sub-committee, said that there was no rental received for
the pipes laid down in the direction of the warehouses, inas-
much OS they were necessary for the protection of pi °Fel ty,
autl the public.
Mr. FARIVNVORTH having drawn attention to the im-
mense waste of water,

CRELLIN stated that he believed a great waste of
water was caused by the ball taps in the different cisterns
being out of order ; and, in proof of that, he referred to an
instance where, during last week, he lead been employed in
the course, of business,

Mr. BENNErr ,called attention to 'the revenue on the water
account. He said that, notwithstanding they had received
an immense increase in the water supply at an expenditure
of several hundreds of thousands of pounds, and that the
expenditure since 1847 had been nearly doubled, yet there
was only an increase in the revenue of £5,000. That must
arise from a mistake in the figures, or there must be very
great waste in, the water.

Mr. RILEY said it did not folio* that, because there wa as
great inerease in the water supply, there must necessarily
be a corresponding increase in the rental ; neither did it
follow that there was unnecessary waste. They had had
a great increase of water in consequence of the completion
of the Rivington works, and no doubt the water was used
in such a manner as to promote the health of the town. A
great deal of water was sent down the sewers, which was
highly beneficial in a sanitary point of view. He should
be sorry to advocate any unnecessary waste of water ; but so
long as they had the water, he thought it ought to be used for
the general benefit of the inhabitants, without a charge of
waste being brought against the committee.
The matter then dropped.
The subject of the forty fountains erected by the Mersey
Dock Board was again brought before the committee.
The CHAIRMAN, in reference to the application of the
Mersey Dock Board, that the fountains be gratuitously sup-
plied with water, said that he believed all public bodies
ought to be charged, and he thought it was a great mistake to
exempt any parties.
A lengthened discussion took place, in which several
members of the committea took part
Mr. TURNER said that the water used by the Mersey Dock
Board at the fountains was mainly for public purposes, and
not exchisively for the accommodation of labourers in con-
nection with the docks.

The CHAIRMAN drew attention to the original application
of the Mersey Board for the erection of the fountains, from
which it appeared that they were for the use of the dock
labourers.

Mr. CRELLIN said that if the water from these fountains
was to be supplied by the Water Committee, the expense
would fall upon the ratepayers in the long run ; and the
question was, whether this committee or the Dock Board
ought to pay for it.
Mr. RILEY contended that the Mersey Board ought to pay
for the supply.
Mr. FARNwonrx and Mr. BENNETT were of an opposite
opinion.
Ultimately, a motion by Mr. WOODRUFF, that the water
be supplied to the fountains gratuitously, was carried by a
majority of 5 to 3.
This was the whole of the public business, and the re-
porters withdrew.