The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-11 00:00:00

be the most deadly poison in the months of
June, July, August, and September next ? We
all know the influence the temperature of the
atmosphere has on all waters, and, from what, we
see of the Rivington liquid filth at present,
what have we to expect in summer ? This is an
important phase of the question which we regret
was not touched on 'in the debate. Mr. J. R.
JEFFERY demolished Dr. TAYLOR'S scientific"
assertions, and held Mr. HAWKSLEY up to the
gaze of the world in a very true light; and, in
doing this piece of public service, he has shown
us that, the apprehension felt by the inhabitants
is well founded, and that the Pikeists have no
apology to offer for persisting in a course of un-
precedented recklessness. Mr. S. HOLME, in his
attempt to force us to take poisonous water at any
cost, made a great display of figures to deter us
from continuing an ample supply of pure water,
which is the greatest blessing and attraction a
large and populous town can possibly possess.
The Pikeist leader's estimate for laying down
the mains to supply the Pike water to all parts
of the town, is somewhat after Mr. HAWKSLEY'S
notion of such things. "To deliver it through-
" out the town," lie says, " the expense would
" be 278,0001.7 or Id, in the pound, making
the gross water rate 3d. in the pound ; but the
Pike water is not required for general house use,
as it is only fit for extinguishing fires, watering
streets, and manufactures.

To supply it for these purposes mains only
are wanted, Those who want the water brought
into their premises should pay for it, as they do
for gas. But supposing it would really cost what
Mr.• HOLME says, the annual charge would not
exceed 16,5101., and who can pretend to doubt
that double this sum would be realised from the
employment of Pike water for steam-boilers.
Our motive power engines are increasing in a
very large ratio yearly ; and if within the next
five years only 10,000 horse power should be
added to our present steam consumption, who
can despair of seeing an ample revenue accruing
from steam employers, if those who really use
the water are made to pay for it in a fair pro-
portion to those who take it for domestic purposes
only ? We ought not, then, to be frightened by
the fortnidable totals made up by Mr. HOLME.
There is no calculating the benefits the Borough
would derive from having a constant supply of
water for manufacturers, as well as the purest
spring water in England, for household use. And
sooner than part with this inestimable luxury
we would accept Mr. HoLME's estimate, with all
its margins. The worthy Alderman has much
to say about " colouring and organic matter,"
but we question if he knows the difference
between the two, where it begins or where it
ends; but in his zeal to prepare the public for
the worst, he strongly recommends the use of
" terrace cisterns." Mr. J. STEWART seems to
be equally ill-informed about the action of water
on lead. " The quality of the lead," as he very
justly observed, " has a great deal to do with
" this point." If the lead is pure, such as that
called " Beaumont's lead," it will corrode
rapidly, and produce the purest white lead ; but
if cisterns are made of common sheet lead. it
will take much longer to corrode, and the pro-
duct will be discoloured ; and this is all the
difference between the two, which is known to
chemists. But all this small quibbling on the
chemistry of the question is sheer bosh. The Pike
water is before us to speak for itself; the inha-
bitants have denounced it in a perfectly Consti-
tutional way ; and as their reasonable request
, has been scornfully rejected by a majority of
jobbers, other steps must be taken to preserve
the public health.

Mn. MONSELL'S appointment as President of the Board
of Trade appears in the London Gazette of last evening.

RAILWAY AND OTHER BILLS IN PARLIAMENT.—Yester-
day the standing orders were complied with in the fol!owing
cases :—Atlantic Telegraph CoMpany, Australian Agricul-
tural Company, Briton Ferry Docks, Landport and South-
sea Improvement, Willenhall (Wolverhampton) Gas,
Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland (Sligo
Extension), Lowestoft, Water, Gas, and Market ; Cork
Gas, Wycombe Railway, Guildford Gas ; North Eastern,
Hartlepool Dock and Railway Companies Amalgamation ;
Weaver Navigation and South Staffordshire Water. In
the case of the Border Counties Railway the application
was withdrawn, and in the case of the Salisbury and Yeovil
the standing orders were not complied with.

PARIS GOSSIP.—It is often the subject of rem Irk that
since the establishment of the Empire, Paris has grown
infinitely more luxurious than before. In the public pro-
menades, the Champs Elysees, the Bois de Boulogne, and
elsewhere, a far greater display of carriages, liveries,
elegant dresses, &c., is seen than formerly. A love Of
luxury seems to have seized upon the sham upper classes,
if I may so name enriched speculators, successful
tradesmen, and schemers of all kinds. Each man tries
to exceed in brilliancy his neighbours. I dare say many
people will imagine that all this glitter is a sign of the
country's prosperity. They are sorely mistaken if they do
Let them remember the old proverb which deals with glit:
tering things. The outside luxury visible just now in Paris
may be regarded as a sign of disease rather than of health.
It is the manifestation of a fever which has its hotbed in
the Tuileries. From that spot the contagion has spread.
An idea is abroad that every man may become suddenly
rich, even as one man became, a time ago, suddenly Em-
peror. In the idea you have all explained. Speculation
strives not so much to develope the resources of the
country as to extract profit from shares. La Bourse is the
temple in which all men worship. It is there that all creeds
unite and harmonise. While luxury is thus having its
swing, pleasure, of course, grows apace. Balls, soirees,
parties, succeed each other all over Paris in the most
rapid succession. People who go a good deal into society
as it is called, declare that never was season so brilliant
as the present. Night after night they are invited—now
here, now there—without respite, without breathing time,
unless idleness loses all knowledge of herself, and is
driven into activity. Pleasure becomes pain. Relaxation
is hard work. I met a poor young Frenchman the other
day who declared to me he was already quite worn out.
Ile had several times lately been to five parties in an
evening, and had not risen till sunset for three weeks. I
really felt pity for him, his case was deserving it. The
balls at the Tuileries are, of course, more brilliant than
ever. There is a new dance, too, this year, which, from
the Emperor down to the frequenters of the Prado, is in
high favour. It is called La Quadrille des Landers. Will
it be believed that this is nothing more or less than our
old friend of dancing school days, " The Lancers ''—that
very elegant and pretty dance which, in England, it has
for some time past been considered good manners to know
no step of? Yet so it is; and I suppose, because Napo-
leon 111. and the Empress Eugenie have thought fit to
import it into France, and make it " fashionable,"
English people—sturdy, independent people as they are—