Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-10-19 00:00:00

could be stayed. In the interim it flowed down
fields, roads, -and ditches, sweeping all before it,
and causing the utmost consternation in the
district. The damage done, although consider-
able, is yet but a trifle to what it
.might have
proved. We have already published a
report of the circumstance furnished by a
gentleman who paid a visit to the spot on
Thursday last. From his statement, it appears
that the pipe was a very defective one ; that at
the very point where strength and soundness is
most essential, it is represented as being honey-
combed—full of what moulders call shot-holes,
and slag or clinker. The question arises—
why were such defective pipes ever permitted to
be laid ? Surely if the inspectors had properly
performed their duty in testing them, such
palpable defects must have been detected.
It is just possible that there may be hundreds
or even thousands of the pipes in a like condition.
This is frightful to contemplate.
It is quite evident that so far, the much
vaunted self-acting valves afford no adequate
protection in the event of a burst occurring,
That we shall always be liable to such
disasters cannot now he doubted; and for what
have we incurred these certain present losses,
and the fearful future risks ? As we all know,
and most deplore, the only object we have gained
has been the procuring of a limited supply
of rotten bog-wash. It is too late in
the day now to undo altogether what has been
done, but it is indeed grievous to reflect on the
positive insanity which prompted the prosecu-
tion of. such a disastrous scheme in defiance
of the wishes of the whole town, and in the face
of the ample warnings given as to the conse-
quences to be apprehended, warnings which we
much fear are all likely to be realised.
The Pike engineer has displayed his usual
sagacity in washing his hands clear of the job--
it has answered his purpose—and as he sees
nothing more to be gained he bows himself out,
leaving others to chew the bitter cud of disap_
pointment and grief of their own unparalleled
folly.

At the meeting of the Council to-day
these and many other matters will be fully
ventilated. We have no desire to perpetuate
angry feelings further than has been done
already, but we must protest against the style of
argument generally employed by the " thick and
thin" supprters of the Pike. We have ever
given these men credit for honest intentions, but
certainly not for clear headedness—on this sub•
ject at all events. They have exhibited an
amount of childish credulity or gullibility that is
truly astJunding, and for which they ought at
least to express their regret, forahe public have
to pay for their. freaks, and the bantering inso-
lence of some of these parties is out of place
under the circumstances. Let the opponents of
the scheme, while avoiding all mere personal
critninations, yet be firm in their denunciations
of this the most villanous job ever concocted—
and let an end b.! put to all further jugglery in
regard to it ; let there be a frank, honest, and
manly compliance with the recognised wishes of
the whole town Let the spring water be given
back to the inhabitants forthwith without ad-
mixture, and leave chemists, engineers, and the
whole herd of Charlatans to experiment at their
leisure only, not at the cost of the Burgesses of
Liverpool.