The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-10 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.

chemist becomes an advocate. The first paragraph to which
I shall refer will be that one wherein he begins by saying—
" Of Dr. Maepratt's analysis I shall only mike this
observati in." And in referring to Dr. Muspratt, it is due
to that gentleman that I should state that what be has
done hitherto professionally, he has done as a citizen.
(Hear, hear.) He has felt strongly the views which he has
expressed, and he has done Con Amore all the public have
seen in the public prints which has emanated from his
laboratory. Finding that other parties were opposed :to
him, he sought the opinion of Dr. Herapath, who confirmed
everything Dr. Muspratt bad stated, and other gentlemen
of equal eminence have also, I believe, confirmed his
analyzation ; and therefore I do not think Dr.
Muspratt is at all likely to suffer from the
ungenerous references, for I will venture to call it
so, on the part of Dr. Taylor to what Dr. Muspratt has so
generously, so ably set before us gratuitously for the benefit
of his fellow-townsmen. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Muspralt, sir.
requires no commendation from me. Dr. Muspratt's repu-
tation is not in my hands. He has an European reputation,
and so far as I have been able to gather, stands higher in
estimation as an able and eminent chemist upon the Continent
than even Dr. Taylor. We also know, sir, that upon a
recent important occasion Dr. Taylor was employed by the
crown to find poison, but he failed to do se, although
human life was sacrificed, according to the verdict of a jury,
notwithstanding—therefore, I think passing a very heavy
condemnation upon Dr. Taylor's want of scientific chemical
knowledge in not discovering the poison. (Cries of "No, no.")
Mr. Hodson: Oh, nonsense—he's the first chemist in
the world.
Mr. Jeffrey : Well, sir, Dr. Taylor was employed and.
failed to find the poison, although no one doubted its be-
ing in the body ' • and, as a matter of course, government
again employed him, and sent him again on a similar
mission. Now, sir, the object of the memorial which is
before the council to-day is to retain the advantages of the
home supply as well as of the supply from
Rivington. The memoralists admit that the Riv-
ington water is valuable for certain specific purposes,
but they also contend that the two waters are quite
distinct in their character; and the inhabitants of Liverpool
having paid for both waters, wish to have the opportunity,
at an additional cost if need be ; for they say at any reason-
able cost—of enjoying the advantage of either water or
of both as they may think proper. Therefore, sir, I
presume it will rest entirely upon the character of the
waters whether the one water will do the duty of the
other, or whether the othf r water will do the duty of the one,
or whether we shall have both. The memorialists pray that
we may have both, and may have the option of taking either.
N3W, sir, I shall take Dr. Taylor's report upon the water
as submitted to you ; and here I may venture to say that it
would have been much better if the water committee, in
sending the water to Dr. Taylor, had seen the use of
obtaining the assistance of those who differed with them in
opinion ; and that the water sent to Dr. Taylor should
have been sent by mutual selection and mutual consent.
(Hear, hear.) Probably it would have been better still for
the council to have adopted what was in my opinion the
very reasonable and proper motion submitted to then on a
recent occasion by my friend Mr. Picton. A similar course
was pursued, nevertheless, subsequently by the water
committee who felt the necessity and propriety of having
au additional report upon the water • and, therefore,
instead of voting for the motion prepared by Mr. Picton,
they voted against it, but pursued a course subsequently
which had practically the same tendency, although a very
much less effect upon the council and the public. Now,
sir, in the report, the so-called report of Dr. Taylor, to
which I wish to direct the attention of the council, is the
following paragraph. "There are, however, apart from all
the public prejudice thus stirred up, two points on which I
would beg through you to mike some remark to the water
committee." Ist. Although the Rivington water, as I have
received and examined it, is good and wholesome, the
colour, apparently derived from peat, is decidedly objection-
able." It would have been more satisfactory to me, and I
think to the council and the public generally, if Dr. Taylor
had given a more scientific definition of what he means by
the word " objectionable," He then says :—" Since my
report was sent to you, I have peformed some experiments
in reference to this colour. Lime water partially removes
it, but it hardens the water, unless the preparation is very
carefully regulated. Air and light do not appear to remove
the colour, at least so far as I have yet tried the water by
exposure ; sand filtration does not remove it. The agent
which I have found to remove the colour entirely, and
make it bright and colourless, is filtration through peat
eharloal (well washed), how far this can be practicable on
a large scale, is a question for your engineer, and would no
doubt be regulated by the necessities of the case. I
neeo it eeee turn out thot 41,a Aironinnrrtinn l,q pont
is dependant on temporary causes, and that there is
ne peat deposit from which the water may acquire
permanently a decided colour, which would make it
repulsive for drinking." Now I submit that so
far as the quality of the water at present supplied is con_
cerned, this document furnished to us by the water com-
mittee themselves, is fatal to its continuance, until the
objection which is now made be removed. I submit, with
all due deference and respect for that committee, and for the
council, that the report which they have adopted, is in itself
fatal to the continuance of this supply to the town, until
this impurity has been removed. (Hear, hear.) But, sir,
a very important question, which has agitated the town, has
been the operation of this water upon lead. Now, one
would have supposed that Dr. Taylor, who states that he
had the various newspapers of Liverpool forwarded to him.
—who has, therefore, seen the discussions—has evi-
dently examined, very carefully, the objections, and knows
that the action of dissolving lead has taken hold of the minds
of a great number of people in Liverpool ; a question upon
which lam not giving the slightest opinion. I leave it to
the scientific men—one might have supposed that Dr.
Taylor would have considered that question worthy of re-
mark. But Dr. Taylor passes it over altogether, as a ques-
tion of no moment whatsoever.
Mr. Earle : I rise to a point of order. We are now dis-
cussing the question of the reception of the memorial. What
in the name of goodness, has that to do with lead The
speeches upon the subject have been heavy enough—they
did not want any more lead in them. (Laughter )
Mr. Jeffery I prestite lam perfectly in order. I beg
Mr. Earle will not interrupt me. I shall listen to him in
his turn with all attention, and I promise him I shall not
interrupt. lam proceeding perfectly in order, and when
called to order by the Mayor, I shall bow to that call. • In
the meantime I was about to show that the prayer of the
,e_eemorielists should be entertained by the council, because
.by the advice the water committee themselves have obtained
from Dr. Taylor, this water is not in a fit state to be con
tinned as a supply for dietetic purposes, and I therefore con-
tend that the prayer of the memorial should be complied
with, and the red stand stone water furnished, until a re cond
set of mains can be laid down to supply both. I take it that I
'am perfectly in order. lam chewing yon that the water is
not such water as should be supplied for drinking purposes,
and I would ask Mr. Earle not to interrupt gentlemen who
are endeavouring at all events to make their views clearly
understood by the council, but to wait until his own turn
arrives, leaving the Mayor in the meantime to do his duty
as president of the council, and when the time arrives for
Mr. Earle to make his remarks, I shell be happy to listen
to L:nl with all the attention which his remarks frequently
deserve.
Arr. Earle standing) : 1 beg to ask whether Mr,.
Jeffery is in order ?
The Mayor : I think he is in order.
Mr. Earle : Then I have done.
Mr. Jeffery : Dr. Taylor gees on to say : "1 Lave not
made any experiments whatever with the Rivington watoss
in reference to its action or non-action on lead. It belongs
to that class of waters which in general do act more or less
on the metal. In one of the newspapers there is a letter
from a Dr, Cautey, stating that the water has a rapid action
upon lead, and I perceive that Mr. Herapath has ad Ipted
this view." Now, that word "view" strikes me as very
singular, coming from a scientific man. I apprehend it is
either a fact or not a fact that the water does produce this
action upon lead. What does Dr. Taylor mean by saying,
" Mr. Herapath has adopted this view ?" Are we to he
mystified by scientific statements, and when the statements
are made, they are merely " views" entertained by the
scientific gentlemen ! I scarcely know what term to apply
to an opinion given in this loose way, and that too an
opinion from a gentleman paid for his services rendered—
for it must be understood that this Dr. Taylor is not in the
position Dr. Muspratt has been towards the community of
Liverpool. This gentleman is receiving remuneration and
reward for services rendered, and yet one most important
point he fails to deal with altogether. But, sir, this
water is manifestly, even according to his opinion, not
such as should be permitted to supplant the red sand stone
water. Who is there among us, sir, who has not observed,
when walking in the rural districts, such water as this flow-
ing before the cottage doors, and yet we find the cottagers
with their pails and their pitchers going a distance of one,
one and a hair, or two miles, in order to procure a sufficiency
of spring water for drinking purposes: When they have
got good water, mountain water, similar to this, flowing
before their door in abundance for every purpose, they
decline to accept it. Ncr need we go so far as the rural
diAr,sts. I would ask every gentleman in this room, whether,
when he resolves to reside in the suburbs of Liverpool, and
erects for himself a house, he is content with the water be
is enabled to catch from the reofieg of his house—whether
he is content with that, however large the surface catchment
area may be, however large may be the terrace cisterqs he
may lay down for storing the water, although it may fur-
nish him with double the quantity of water his neces-
sities require, and however good may be his filte
Does he not go to the expense of sinking a well,
and putting down a pump, in order that he may have
the beautiful, sparkling red sand stone water, with
which we have been for so many years supplied,
and of which we are now about to be deprived ?

No gentleman can ' sink a well and put down
a pump for a less cost than about £3O ; and I believe there
are gentlemen who have gone to considerably greater
exuense than that—l am told £lOO or £l5O.

Mr: Godfrey : £4OO.
Mr. Jeffery : Perhaps Mr. Godfrey is referring to wells
sank for business purposes.
Mr. Godfrey : I am.
Mr. Jeffery : lam not referring to wells so sunk. I am
referring to wells sunk for the exclusive purpose of having
this beautiful water for table use ; and I believe, therefore,
I am right when I say that gentlemen have gone to an
expense of £lOO or £l5O for sinking a well and putting
down pumping engines, rather than be deprived of the
water. When this project was first introduced into the
town—and I opposed it, conscientiously believing it to be
supei fluous and unnecessary—what was the great cry raised
in its support ? That the wells of the surrounding districts
were being drained of water, in order that the town might
be supplied with an increased quantity. Drained and
deprived of what water, sir ? Was it the rain water ? Did
the gentlemen in the neighbourhood of West Derby,
Aigburth, and Woolton, complain that 7.they were de-
prived of the rain water ? Had they not abundance
of rain water ? They complained that they were de-
prived of the red sandstone water—and yet some of these
very gentlemen who complained so loudly upou that
occasion, are the gentlemen who are now voting away
that very water from 400,000 of the inhabitants of
Liverpool. Let me remind those gentlemen of the
position in which they place themselves. In the act of
parliament, I believe I am right in saying, there was a
clause inserted in consequence of parties being deprived
of water, we must supply them at a maximum cost with
Pike water. We are obliged to supply within a given
district, at a maximum price fixed by the act, anybody
who may apply to us to be supplied with the Pike water.
Now, sir, what would be the effect, supposing the cry
raised before not to be groundless, supposing it to be
raised with every justifiable reason, that by supplying
the town we were depriving various wells in localities
around of the water which belonged to the owners of
the premises, then the owners must of course be sup-
plied by us with the Pike water—but if the pumping be
suspended, the water may return into the wells, and
then the owners will be supplied with the Pike water at
their own rates, and also supplied with the red sandstone
water, and, therefore, will have no sympathy what-
ever with the deprivation of those obliged from circum-
stances to reside within the Parliamentary boundary.
Now, if the prayer of the memorialists be entertained,
neither will have cause to complain. All parties will
have an apportunity, as I believe, of being supplied with
bath waters. It may be that by the diminished pump.
ing the water may be turned again into the wells from
which it has been drained by excessive pumping, and
the town will be supplied also with the water. Each party
would have the much.to.he-coveted water. Grumbling
would cease, and all, I trust, would be satisfied. This
water has cost us £650,000 at least. Is that fact not to
be an element in our calculation ? Is it to be set aside
as though it were of no value—as though it really cost
us nothing ? Sir, I submit that this question of the
Pike has really thrown its promoters out of their ordinary
equilibrium. Nothing appears to be too expensive for
the promotion of that scheme ; but anything in order to
retain the red sand stone supply appears to be made a
question of cost, for, I presume, it has at length settled
itself down to that. The Rivington scheme—and I may
say parenthetically that I am of the same opinion now
as I was ten years ago, that there is abundance of water
to be obtained from the red sand stone,and that the Riving-
ton was an unnecessary scheme—has now been carried
out at an immense cost, and I say, with the memorialists,
let us have both. The other, as I said before, cost us
£650,000 ; and if any additional cost—as the memorialists
say, any reasonable cost—is required, to enable to retain
among us that luxury, I do hope that the council will accept
to-day the resolution lam about to submit, as a settlement
of the question at issue. That gentlemen may understan'i
precisely the position of the two supplies, I shall call atten-
tion to Mr. Hawksley's original statement. I hold
in my hand, an extract, in which he sass, dated
the 17th of February, 1847 :—" That the amount of
outlay, including the continuation of the works, compensa
tion, interest upon money to be borrowed, and all other
contingenc'es, he estimated at £450,000 ; but," he adds,
" I am not without a hope, and an anticipation, that the
object of the corporation can be accomplished for a sum
considerably less." Now, sir, soon after that report, I had
the pleasure of meeting the chairman of the finance com-
mittee, at a public meeting, when he there stated—
The Mayor : You are a little wandering now, I think,
from the mint before us. (Hear, hear
Mr. Alderman Cooper : Goug into to the whole
question.
Mr. Beckwith : I think it is a quarterly council.
Mr. Alderman Holme : I beg to correct that remark—it
is no longer a quarterly or a monthly council, but almost a
daily council. (hear, hear, and laughter.)
Mr. Jeffery : My object is simply this—ES it is possible
that the prayer of the memorial may involve a little cost, I
want to show that on the other side of the question lost
has been no consideration. (Hear, hear.) That, I take it,
is quite in order. The chairman of the finance committee,
Mr. Holme, said the cost wonld be within 20 per cent, of
Mr. Hawksley's estima'es, and that he had examined the
estimates. Now, I have no doubt whatever that the
chairman of the finance committee believed then what ho
stated to be true. No one who knows that gentleman
could suppose otherwise. But, sir, Mr. Hawksley, I have
no doubt, had not given the question that mature coa-
-1 sideration which the expenditure of so large a sum of
money should have claimed at his hands. Mr. Lace said at
the same meeting, that the cost would not exceed
£400,000. Now, sir, on a former occasion Mr. James
Holme stated, that the money actually paid already has
been £750,000. I have been at some little pains to
ascertain what has been the surplus revenue derived from
the red sandstone supply, during the progress of the
gigantic seheme called the " Pike Scheme," and I
find that the sum carried to the cash account, and
interest ca'culated at four per cent., would amount
to nearly £200,000. This has been absorbed, also, by the
promoters of the P,ke scheme 'through your water com-
mittee. This, then, must be added to the money paid in
cash. I put it down in my memorandum at £150,000 ; I
know it exceeds that, but I take it within the mark and in
round numbers. This would make the Pike scheme amount
to £900,000; and if we add capitalisa'ion of compensation,
which Mr. Hawksley has included in his report—and if, in
addition, we also take what has been, in my opinion,
unfairly carried to the debit of the red sandstone supply,
and then consider that the works are not yet completed-4
think, sir, I shall not be open to a charge of exaggeration
when I say that the works, before they are completed, will
cost three times the money it was expected, or
millions, being three quarters of a million more than the
public were led to believe, they vrou'd cost. (Loud cheers.)
Now, sir, seeing that no experse is spared in promoting
this scheme, is it unreasonable that those who value the
red sandstone water for en-inking purposes should ask, at
the hands of the council, that some small expense should
be incurred in order to retain it for their particular use
and purpose ? The chairman of the finance committee
will excuse me referring to him more than once, but I
must repeat the conversation which took place between
him and Mr. John Smith, at a public meeting, in reference
to this very question. Mr. Smith said, " Instead of
going to Rivington, would it not be better for you to go
to Windermere ?" But the chairman replied, instructed,
no doubt, by Mr. Hawksley, the engineer, " Well, that
may be all very well, but the elevation of Windermere
would not permit us to have a continuous supp'y of
water, or to give it to the distant districts of the town,
without pumping." That was the reason assigned by the
advocates of the Pike scheme for going to the Pike
district, because it had so much higher an elevation.
Now, what has been the change since ? Is the water
permitted to flow, as was stated by Mr. Hawksley, on
that occasion, that it should flow protected against light
and against the powers of the sun, in order that animal_
cube should not be generated in it, and so render the
water obnoxious to the people of Liverpool, when it was
delivered to their houses One great reason why the
water should be brought from Rivington was that it
would come by its own gravity, that it would
rear itself at Kensington, in a stand pipe 80 feet perpen-
dicular, which again would enable them to supply it to
the highest district of the town without the aid ot pump-
ing. I appeal to you if these were not Mr. Hawksley's
own words. Here is the very description of the works
given in his own report. (Mr. jeffery here read an
extract from an old report of Mr. lawksley, which bore
out the correctness of his statement ) He then continued :
Now, I ask, where is the standpipe! Will any gentleman
sitotofiwwoit to me—that stand pipe in'o which the dater was
from the
ntdh e
which
oirs immediatelyter, when
protecteddjui ning the
filter beds,
the air and light, was to become a continuous supply
el
into the dwellings of the people of this great town ?
Instead of that, thou
are many members of gthhisl
cohnanvecil niognodroaunbtt
oftliteliee
fact—instead of that, we have a restermvooinr aty AbsopuTisielhle-;
moor ; We have a second reservoir a
and we have a third reservoir placed at Eccletsrteone
measurement of the two former, I do not know - perhaps
the chairman of the water committee will afford us that
information, but, I am told the last has an extent of area
of 30 acres, and that the Rivington water has taken
possession also of the Kensington reservoir, so that we are
left without a reservoir at all in that district, to store the
red sand-stone water, however desirable it may be to the
town to have it ; and as a substitute for the 80 feet Etaprl
pipe, we find a orks erected at Everton with pumping
engine and a tower 100 feet high, in order to throw the
water which was to rise by its own gravitation.
I point out to the council these facts, in order to

qsow them that neither estimates nor plan has been
adhered to for t .e purpose of consummating this great
undertaking. (Hear, bear) Ido hope, therefore, that
the proposition which I am about to submit to the
council, will be entertained, and that we shall come to a
unanimous vote upon it. It will be asked of those
who entertain the same opinions as are expressed
in the memorial, how we should propose to
comply with the prayers of the memorial I have
no objection whatever to answer the question ; for
I conceive it to be perfectly fair, that if we pro-
pound a principle and make a request, we should be
prepared to show, in some practical form, how that
request is to be carried out. Now, there are two modes
by which that cau be effected. I would say, in the first
place, there are about 75,000 houses in Liverpool. I
am not prepared to say what will be the cost of laying
down the second set of mains, but the bore of those
mains need not be by any means large, nor does it follow
that they should pass through every street in the town.
There are some streets that are exclusively appropriated
to warehouses. Therefore, through these streets, the
red sandstone water need not be conveyed, nor will it be
necessary to charge to the Viking account, the repave
ment of every street through which it may pass. There
are many streets in the town which require repaving,
and these pipes could be laid simultaneously with the
repayment of those streets, and, therefore, the expense
of the unnecessary breaking up of the streets would be
saved. But, deducting from the 75,000 houses
which I have supposed about 35,000 houses for sheds,
warehouses, &c., there would be 40,000 houses left to
contribute towards the cost of this second supply of
water, saoposing any contribution were necessary. Ido
not, however, think, that such a contribution would be
necessary. I merely state it as one means by which the
object could be accomplished ; and I believe that a
rental of from 24. to 53. a year upoa each house would
produce a sufficient revenue to pay the interest upon the
sums of money thit may be requsite and necessary to lay.
down the pipes and carry out the prayer of the memorial.
I believe that a tax of from 2s io upon each house

would 'meet the difficulty, aad I cannot, suppose, from
what I have'heard out of doors since the last meeting of
the council, that there will be very much objEction, if

any, raised by the owners of property to that suggestion.
But I am happy to say it is unnecessary for the conned to
entertain even that suggestion. The promoters of the
Pike scheme have told us over and over again, that our

supply from that district will be 16,000,000 gallons a
day, and if the quality of the water were acceptable, that
would be more than abundant, yea, twice as much,
to supply the town according to the sanitary act. But,
sir, we have pumping stations in this town that have
cost us, since they have been in the hands of the corpo-
ration, £6,666 per annum. Seeing that there will be an
abundant supply of water from Rivington applicable to
all purposes, except table purposes, I would suggest that
all the pumping stations be dismantled but two, Windsor
and Green Lane, which I would retain for the purpose of
filling those pipes that would be laid down ia conformity
with the prayer of the memorial, and by that means als3
my object would be accomplished. The cost of these two
stations would be £2,473 which would be a saving in the
whole expenditure of £4,193 per annum, say £4,000,
and in that £4 000 per annum, with the permission
of the council, I would borrow £lOO,OOO, with that
£lOO,OOO so borrowed I would put down the pipes
necessary, so far as that sum would permit, to carry out the
prayer of the memorial; and seeing the increase of revenue
ever since the council has had the supply of water to the
town in its hands has been on average £2493 a year—for
zome reason or other there is one year in which it fell
short, but I am making due allowance for that deficiency,
and taking the eight years and excluding the first year
which was in fact only nine months, I find that the averag)
increase in the rental was £2,493, or in round numbers
£2,500 per annum, and wiring it for granted that with an
increased supply it will still continue to increse, by the
time I had my £lOO,OOO expended and pipes laid down I
should be ready to make another investment of a similar
character. If the future is at all to be guided by the past,
I do not think I can he charged with being sanguine if I
say that at the time I had laid dawn my first £lOO,OOO
worth of pipes I shall have again a surplus
revenue that will enable me to borrow again another
sum of money that will go to the completion of
this scheme ; but wahtever the cost may be—l am
not prepared to state it—but if it be any reasonable cost,
such as the memorialises ask you to grant, you are bound
to give it in compliance with their prayer. The plan, how-
ever, that I have pointed out will enable us to comply
with the pray. r of the memorial without impos-
ing an natliti.n.l tax of aitr.nea a year
upon the community, and upon that ground, among others,
I ask the council to grant the request of those who think
such a step as that prayed for in the memorial to be
necessary. If there be any doubt on the minds of the
gentlemen present as to the dissatisfaction of the parties oat
of doors, since the meeting of the council last Wednesday,
with the water, I can only say that I have met with many
persons who have complained of this diluted supply, for we
have had it only yet in its mixed form. Since last Thursday
it has been supplied to the neighbourhood of Lodge-lane,
and several of my neighbours have called upon me in
reference to it. In one case the gentleman said that he
should either leave his house, or require his landlord to
sink him a well ; El) that the question is also likely to
become a landlord question, and it was upon that ground
that I ventured to say that I did not think that the landlords
would object to a small tax being imposed on them, in
order that the prayer of this memorial should be carried
out. But if there he any doubt as to the feeling of the
town in regard to this question, then I ask, let the town of
Liverpool be supplied with the water as it comes from
Rivington for only three days, and let the supply of the red
sandstone be withheld for that time, and if, having thus
given the inhabit ints the opportunity of judging of the
quality of the water, you then poll the town, I shall be
perfectly satisfied with whatever may be the issue. (fleet.,
hear.) Now, sir, we are here as the representatives of the
community. We are here to do that which, I believe, the
community require at oar hands. Ido hope, therefore, that
the council will be unanimous in granting the prayer of
this memorial, because I do assure the council that there is
scarcely anything that will aff od me more pleasure than to
fled this citation. which hes agitated the minds of the people
of Liverpool for the last ten years, brought to an amicable
settlement in this day's debate. I shill be gl id if the
council concur with me in that feeling, and with that view
I beg to move the following resolution for its consideration :
—"'That this memorial be referred to a special committee
of this council, consisting of Mr. Alderman Cooper, Mr.
Earle, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Farnworth, and Mr. Tinne, on be-
half of the water committee, and on behalf of the members
of the council not on the water committee, Mr. Robertson
Gladstone, Mr. Picton, Mr. Beckwith, and, if it were the
pleasure of the council, himself." That arrangement gave
the water committee five members and the council generally
only four members, and he w ould accordingly move that the
special committee so appointed be instructed " to report to
the council on as early a day as possible upon the practica-
bility of complying with the prayer of the memorial, and
the mode they would propose to carry that prayer into
efiect." (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Alderman Bennett seconded the motion, reserving
his remarks.
Mr. W. Earle said he had prepared no speech on this
question, and if he had lie should deem it a great presump-
tion to detain the council for nearly an hour in talking upon
a question which they were all equally well informed, and
perhaps better informed, than the gentleman who had just
occupied their time. Touching the memorial, it had highly'
respectable signatures, so said Mr. Jeffery, and therefore
ought to be taken into their consideration. It contained
2,809 signatures, he (Mr. Earle) was inforinel, and yet
there were only 500 of them to be found in the Directory.
(User, bear.) Mr. J. ffery had told them that there were
75,000 helves in Liverpool, and yet out of that number only
500 parties whose names appeared in the Directory were
attached to the highly respectable memorial Mr. Picton
might shake his heat]
Mr. Picton : Sir, I am not shaking my head. (Laughter
Mr. Earle : Then you must have St. Vitus's. dance.
(Laughter.) Mr. Earle continued : The memorial lead
indeed been got up with very great address
and cunning. The knew that all memorials were
got up with a certein degree of cunning and address, but
this appeared to have been got up with a more than
ordinary address. They got six or eight medical men to
sign their names at the top, and by that means they fright-
ened all the old women in the town and some of the old
men, too, who acted like old women. (Laughter.) But
if these gentlemen had examined all the evidence that was
given upon the water question, and had nevertheless signed
the memorial, he should not be very anxious to consult them
as his medical advisers in any case; and if they had not
examined it they ought not to have signed it. He should
not attempt Mr. Hawksley and Dr. '1
as lor. He thought
that they cared very little for the attacks of Mr. Jeffery or
any other gentleman in that room. They stood too high
in the estimation of the world at large to care aLout, attacks
from Mr. Jeffery, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Earle, or any body else.
Dr. Taylor had been employed by government in the case
already referred to, and he was now again employed in
another case of supposed poisoning, and did that show that
they should have less confidence in him ? Certainly not—
they had every confidence in him: The water committee
had consulted the first men in the country. (Hear, hear.)
The whole case had been examined before a Committee*of
the House of Commons, and the government, guided by
the advice of the most eminent men in the country, decidee
in its favour. The committee had been guided by the
s-Avice of men capable of giving them instruetien. They
had not beers drigooned into anything by Mr. Hawksley,
but he had brought a little sound common sense
Mr. Alderman Bennett : Very little.
Mr. Earle : Yes, he bad brought common sense to bear

on their mind. If Mr. Bennett discussed the subject of his
own fine establishment in Liverpool, he (kir. Earle)
would agree with him, but if he took up a question of
philosophy ha (Mr. Earle) had done with any
information which Mr. Bennett could give him.
(Laughter.) Mr. Jeffery fold them that in Lodge Lane
they would sink for a well, but he (Mr. Earle) would
like to know how far they would go before they could get
the water ? He knew they had robbed all th© springs in
the neighbourhood of water.
_ _

Mr. C. Turner : You have robbed me of it.
Mr. W. Earle : Yes, and they had also robbed his (Mr.
Earle's) brother. It was not fair that they should be told
that the Rivington water was unfit to be drunk in its
present state. He had it in his own house mixed, and it
was perfectly good. It was no doubt not colourless—he did
not pretend to say it was, but in every other respect it was
most unobjectionable water. He had a letter from a
gentleman in his hands, and he would read it lest he should
be one of his constituents. (Laughter.) It had no address,
and was signed "John Robinson ;" bat as there
were thirty or forty Sohn Robinsons in the town,
he could not exactly tell which John Robinson
was his correspondent. (Laughter). Mr. Earle read the
letter, which was to the effect that several of the writer's
friends complained of the water. Mr. Earle then continued
to say that he had seen Mr. Lynn, of the Waterloo Hotel,
and when he spoke to Mr. Lynn of the water, that gentle-
man replied, " the fact of it is, there is a great deal of
nonsense talked about it." (hear, hear). And so said he
(Mr. Earle), and so, also, he maintained that the town
generally was in favour of the water. (Cries of " no, no,"
and "yes, yes.") In conclusion, Mr. Earle again repeated
that much of the present confusion, the rustintr of the pipes
particularly, was to be attributed to the foolish opposition
of the anti-Pikeists to the scheme, and that they themselves
were considerably to blame for the present discolouration
of the water. (Hear, bear).
Mr. Alderman Parker observA that Mr. Earle said that
the advocates of the Pike had been guided, from the com-

mencement, by the best scientific men. Wcll, here was one
of the opinions of one of the best of thoe scientific gentle-
men. Mr. Hawksley said that it was impossible that
the yield from the red sandstone could give more
than twenty•eight millions of gallons per week, and
yet they have been getting 45,000,000 of gallons from the
same source for a considerable time b.-ck. (Hear, hear.)
So much, then, for scientific opinion against experience.
(Hear, hear.) There were various opinions, however, as to
the quality of the water l ttely supplied to the town, and he
would, therefore, ask the chairman whether all the water
received from the differant pumping stations went into the
Kensington reservoir before it was distributed through the

town at large
Mr. Alderman Ccoper replied that it did not.
Mr. Alderman Parker continued to say that that easily
explained why Mr. Earle saw the water in the Cornwallis
street baths so clear and why it was on the very same day
so dark at Paul street. At his (Mr. Parker's) place it was
also pure, but it was not so in other parts of the town, and
hence the difference of opinion wilich prevailed. They did
not know the character of the Rivington water, because they
never bad it ; and, therefore, he would not, for the present,
go so far as Mr. Jeffery. Ie would preserve the home
supply until the question of the Rivington was fairly
se tied, and, therefore, he rose to protest against the discon-
tinuance of any of the stations which he heard was in
contemplation. (Hear, hear )
Mr. Holme said that he had a few words to say on the
subject, although he could not but regret that so much
time had been occupied, and that such a number of die.
cussions had taken place on the subject for the last six or
seven years ; he could not permit the direct allusion
which had ben made by Mr. Jeffery to him, and from
which his character was at stake. Allusions had been
made to the great expence that had been incurred by the
scheme. To that he would say that there were men who
advocated all sorts of economy before they came into the
council, but who were not very anxious to carry it out
when they were there. There had been much said by
Mr. Jeffery about the respectability of the memorial they
had heard. That memorial has been presented, and has
become public property, and therefore he had a right to
remark on the memorial. He had, since the last meeting,
taken out names from that memorial, and he would give
the council a description. To him it was evident that
that memorial had been sent round the town for the
purpose of obtaining signatures to it. But before he 6(1
so, he wished to be allowed to say that the water cone
mittee had only one object in view, and that was to give
to the thousands of working classes iu the town a good
supply of pure water.
The signatures aro contained on 125 sheets of paper, con-
taining on the averag, 23 names nn each sheet. The signatures
altogether number 2,809. The first seven sheets contain
about 160 names of the highest respectability. The remainder
consists of mechanics, labourers, &c. From the eighth sheet
the sigatures graduate, and there is every indication of the
various sheets having been carried about and signatures
solicited, but it is evident that means have been taken to
conceal this fact by pasting the sheets together interspersedly.
For instance, sheets, Nos. 26, 39, and 71, contain the names
of persons professing to reside in Whitechapel ; sheets, Nos.
14, 20, and 106, in Copperas hill ; sheets, Nos. 31, 69, and
60, in Great Homer street. Out of 80 consecutive
names there are 54 not contained in the Directory,
although most of the alleged "occupations" aro' such
as would secure them a place in that publication
Of each name and in every sheet subsequent to the 42nd
sheet (except three or four) there are several names, occupa-
tions, and addresses which are not contained in the Directory,
and these names are those of the worst writers or lowest class
of occupations. Judging from the cursory examination m rde,
there are aboutfifleen hundred of the names attached to the
memorial which are not contained in the Directory, and in all
probability the signers aro not ratepayers in the borough.
There aro the names of six brewers only attached to the
memorial, and one of these is not contained in the Directory.
Long lists of names professing the same occupation frequently
occur consecutively, such as locksmiths and fitters, whitesmi he,
tinmen, smiths, coppersmiths, tailors, watch case manufac-
turers, grate fitters, painters, millwrights, &c. In many cases
a series of these names are in the same handwriting. The
conclusion to be drawn from this is, that the memorial has
been taken to large establishments, and the signatures of the
workmen obtained en masse, but as the addresses given are in
every instance the residences of the workmen, and not of the
workshop, it is difficult to discover whore these large estab-
lishments are situate. Tho very large majority of these names
do not appear iu the Directory.
He had the highest respect for the memorialists, and he
admitted the right of the most humble to memorialise,
but he would just say one word or two regarding
the complaints that had been made with regard to the
Rivington water. Mr. Jeffery had told them that they
had not had a specimen of the water, because it had not
been supplied to the town—
Mr. Jeffery : Not unmixed.
Mr. Holme : Not unmixed. Then he would ask,
were not the memorialists premature in making
complaints, when in fact they admitted that they had not
bad the Rivington water, and did not know exactly what
it was. (Hear, hear.) Then it was said that the
committee should have kept Mr. B.awksley in check
because he was receiving the money of the ratepayers.
But if the committee had taken the responsi-
bility out of the hands of that gentlemen they
must take the consequences of the change, and
not, after so doing, endeavour to place the responsibility
upon those who are in no degree responsible. Mr.
Jeffrey had talked about the inhabitants of Aigburtb, as
they had complained of having a less supply of well
water. Now, the object of the committee was to get all
the rich and poor alike the best supply that could be
obtained, and after repudiating the dividing of the out
townships from the town of Liverpool itself, he argued that
by giving a supply of water to Litherland, Waterloo, &c.,
they were doing that, and at the same time they were
increasing the income from the water rates, and at the
same time were doing a great benefit to the sanitary
state of the town. He next proceeded to state that Par-
liament had decided, from the evidence of the most
scientific men, not to grant pumping for a supply, and
that soft water was the best for the supply of large com-
munities, and that it was much better than water from
the mountainous districts. It had • also been said
that the contract for the works had not been
carried out within twenty per cent, of the estimates
that had been fret mentioned. Now, he (Mr. Holme)
had examined the estimates with the greatest care, and
he would say that, if it had not been for the circumstance,
although not alone, of there having been so much
opposition on the question, these estimates would not
have been much exceeded. (Hear, hear). Mr. Jeffery
had made that statement, and he (Mr. Holme) had
answered it. (Hear, hear). At the time the estimates
were made, wages and labour were much lower than he
had heard of them being for some time before. (Hear,
hear). But from the opposition that had been offered
to the measure, the delay had:been occasioned, and they
had been driven to greater expenses. They had had to
take the pipes to Birkenhead, where they had to pay for
shed room, and the pipes had to lay by for months on
the sides of the roads, and became rusty, and
that, he had no hesitation in saying, was the
cause of the discolouratiou of the water. Again,
they had had to take the Chorley works. From
the commencement they had beets opposed by Mr.
Jeffery, who acted as general, and a very
able general he load been—by Mr. Banner and others,
and much of the expense that bad been incurred, had
been occasioned through the opposition which had been
led by those gentlemen, indeed, he might say that the
corporation had been met with as general an opposition,
and the objection had been as great as if the question had
been the taking away of the town dues. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Jr fiery by the new plan he had submitted, had taken
the houses in Liverpool at 75,000, and after making

certain deductions, he had assumed that there would be
35,000 which would pay. He had suggested that there
should be £lOO,OOO borrowed, and that the C 4,000 that
would be levied would pay that amount. But he (Mr.
flolme) would say that such a plan could not be carried
out, because the saving would not pay the interest. He
could tell Mr. Jeffery that the corporation, with all its
influence, could not get the money at that rate of interest.
Then it was proposed that they should borrow another
£IOO,OOO (cries of " no, no")—which would make the
cost £200,000.

Mr. Jeffery denied that he said what the cost would
be, but what he said was, that he would borrow
£lOO,OOO, and then the surplus of the savings would pay
the interest on the sum expended.
Mr. Holme understood Mr. Jeffery to say so.
Mr. Jeffery was sure Mr. Holme would receive his
explanation of what be really did say.
Mr. Holme said, it did not make much difference, as
he was wrong either way.
Alteration of pipes and reservoirs, laying new pipes,
and making good streets, &c £150,000
Ferules and valves for distribution throughout the _

town •

• Cost to the Corporation
To individuals :-
62,000 houses, at 30s per house, for service pipes
and separate cistern

93,000

£27S 000
8,325

Annual cost, at 44 per cent, on £185,000
Additional staff, consequent on double supply, per

annum
Cost sf pumping at Green lane and Windsor

To the public per annum
which is equal to 2d in the pound. •
To this must be added 44 per cent on the £93,000
to be exi.mded by the owners of property, thus, as
above

12,325
Total, and

Annual coat of Mr•. Jefferys' p1an....
or another ld in tho pound, making 3d in the pound on the
whole amount.

He would not detain the council by going at length into
all that had been said on this subject, but Mr. Bennett
bad produced a vial full of the water, which he called
a fair sample of the Rivington water; but he would ask
did he wish it to be believed th it that was a fair speci-
men that had been supplied. It was attempted to be
shown that this water was injurious to health. But
what did the dispensaries tel them on that point ? Why,
he held in his hand a return from the dispensaries, and
from that return he found that the number of cases in
those two institutions, the north and south, was, in Jan.,
1856, 1,935 cases, and in the same month of 1857, 1,775.
Number of new patients on the books of the Dispensaries.
First 3 weeks in January, 1856 :—North. South. Total.
413 227 640
379 248 627
392 276 668

1184

751 1935

First 3 weeks in January, 1867 :

358 277 635
342 226 SPB
365 207 b 72

1065

710 1775

being 165 less than the preceding year. With regard to what
Mr. Bennett had said, he would not say much ; but he
expressed it as his opinion that that gentleman did not
know much about what he was talking about; but, cer-
tainly, with regard to the quality of the water, there had
been great difference of opinion expressed. He would not
detain them with going into that question at any length,
but he would tell them that he had called upon Mr. Radley,
of the Adelphi Hotel, on Thursday morning. Now, he
(Hr. Holmes) considered that Mr. Radley was a good
authority on such matters, from the vast number of gentle-
men who visited that establishment. Mr. Radley has a
filter, and he does, as he always has, filter his water. At
his house he has always parties from the country staying
there, and that gentleman had informed him (M r. Holme)
that he had never heard any person complain of the water
at his house. (Hear, heal).
A Voice : Is his Pike water ?
Mr. }Dime: It is the Pike water.
Mr. Jeffery : Yes, mixed with the red sand stone.
Mr. Holm° a It is the same as you all have had, and
Mr. Radley has stated not only that he was satisfied will it,
but that he has never heard a complaint made against it,
and he says those who do complain have proved ton much
He (Mr. Holme), would also sly, that he was well satisfied
with it—(hear, hear)—and he wax thankful that they had
such a supply, he believed it was a blessing to the
town. (Hear, hear.) It had proved a great blessing at his
own house, for, since the supply had been increased, he had
been enabled te, give his children a bath every night, which
he could not do before. Mr. Holme then pointed out the
great works that had been completed, the construction of
immense reservoirs, the laying down of 26 or 27 miles of
piping and other arrangemen's ; and asked, if such works
could be expected to have been carried out withoat some
sediment being in the water ? fie said it was the state of
the pipes that caused the discolouration of the wider, but
that would soon be got rid of. (Hear, hear.) Let the
sgi ati•)n cease' and not endeavour to make the town
dissatisfied; and he would tell them that if the present
system went on for five or six weeks, the water would then
be given to the p;iblic in its pure state-. (Hear, hear.) He
then gave the following as a few of the samples on the
subjec`, and hoped they would receive the attention of the
council:

1. That mountain waters contain a minute quantity of dis-
solved colouring matter.
2. That well waters near towns, though colourless, contain
even more org laic matter, and derive this from a less pure

source.
3. That mountain water is soft.
4. That well water is hard.
5. That new reservoirs always render water less pure at
first than afterwards.
6. That new pipes colour the water in transitu for some
months, and that the oxydo being held in solution by carbonic
acid, becomes more apparent when the water is heated, and the
carbonic acid driven off.
7. That both hard and soft waters will, under certain
peculiar conditions, dissolve lead, but that those conditions do
not exist under the circumstances in which water is supplied to

towns.
Mr. Holme next pointed out the desirability of using
terrace cisterns. He regretted that such an amount of ill
feeling bad been displayed in Liverpool on the water
question, and confe-sed that he was almost ashamed of the
proceedings of the council ; but he did hope that the public
would suspend their judgment for a short time, and he did
not doubt that they would not only be thankful to the
water committee for the supply of water they had given to
the whole town, and that they would coaceive a great
blessing upon all parties.
Mr. J. Stewart said that he must confess that he was not
satisfied with the water, but he was not prepared to go into
a new scheme of putting down pipes, and other matters, in
order to obtain a separate and distinct supply. (Hear.)
He wished to have a fair chance given to the Rivington
water, and let them see what it really was—at present they
had not had that; and then, if it was found that the quality
was po better than that which they got at present, why,
then, he would say that the corporation should stop at no
expense to secure a good supply of pure water. (Hear,
hear.) What he wanted was, that instead of having a
mixed supply, the capabilities of the works should be tested,
and tha,.. the Rivington waters should be allowed to pass
through the pipes and the filtering beds, and then see what
effect it would have. He said it was not a fair course to
pursue towards the water committee, to pass judgment on
them before they had carried out all their arrangements.
(Hear.) But when the water committee had done all they
could, and that the water had been permitted to run for six
or eight weeks through the pipes, and it was then found
that the Pike water was not fit for the consumption
of the public, he would then be inclined to
support the motion made by Mr. Jeffery, or
any other gentleman who might propose that there should
be a second supply. But before coming to that conclusion
let them taste the Pike water, and n) person would more
regret than be should.if it did turn out contrary to the
expectations of the committee. With regard to the action
of water on lead he would not say much, as there were
many persons of experience who knew more of that matter
than he did, but he believed that it was an admitted fact
that the quality of the lead from which cisterns were made
had much to do with that point. Ho concluded by saying
that after the Pike water had had a fair trial, and was
found unfit for the supply of the people, he would be in
favour of a second supply, but not until then.
Mr. Shell said, the council ought to feel deeply
indebted to the gentleman who had just spoken upon the
question, and who had taken sometljing like the position
which ought to have been taken. Every man who had
listened to the previous part of the debate, and particu-
larly to the two gentlemen who had immediately pre-
ceded the last speaker, could have no doubt for one
moment of the perfect accuracy of the observations made
by Mr. Earle--that a great deal of nonsense had been
talked upon the subject. (Hear, hear, and laughter.)
No gentleman who had heard Mr. Earle and the speaker
who succeeded him, could have any douht of that fact,
(Laughter.) But lie had to complain particularly of the
vice-chairman of the finance committee (Mr. Alderman
Holme). The vice-chairman of the finance committee
stood up and told the council that a great deal of time
had been wasted by Mr. Jeffery in discussing the

question—he told them that the Mayor must go off to
London immediately—he induced the council to believe
that it was necessary that very vital question should be
decided as soon as possible--and then what be do.
He entered into a long discussion of matters which he
(Mr. Shell) maintained—and he could not believe that a
majority of the council would differ with him—were totally
irrelevant to thequestion before them. Did that gentleman
say one word upon the real quality of the water ? 10t
one. (Hear, bear.) He began by doing what he had no
business to do—attempting to analyse the names of the
memorialists instead of analysing the properties of the
water. (Hear, and laughter.) Mr. Holme told then!,
that one man was of one trade, and another man °I
another trade, that so many were from this street and so
many from that street. Bat what he (Mr. Shell) objected
to most of all was that Mr. Holme went on to say that
there were only so many of the names in the directery.
No gentleman who spoke upon the memorial presumed
to say that the names attached to it were fictitious.
(Hear, hear.) Then, since that was so, he maintained
that the fact of the names not being in the directory Wile
the very reason why they should be held more deserving
of attention in that room, because they represented a
clays who required the protection of the council more
than others, and to whom the quality of this water Was
a matter of more essential importance. (Hear, hear.)--
He was sure no gentleman in the council would think
that because meet's names were not in the directory
they were the less deserving of protection from everything
noxious in the shape of water or anything else. (Hear.)
Another gentleman told them to try the water themselves,
and upon a former occasion the chairman of the water
committee was good enough to tell them that the people
might have the water, and judge for themselves. Now,
it was a fact beyond question that there were poisonous
ingredients which might be introduced into water,
without being visible, and which could not be detected
by the taste. (Hear, hear.) Then, if that gentleman
worked out his own proposition to its legitimate cense'
quenees, to what would it have amounted ! To this:.
Give the people the water; let them use it ; let it injure
their constitution, destroy their health —(hear, hear)-
perhaps send many into the next world ; and then the
gentlemen of the water committee would be kind enough
to take the matter into their consideration, and see
whether some remedy could not be applied. (Hear.)
He defied any man to say that this was not the legitimate
consequence of the proposal which had been made.
(Hear.) He should not follow the gentlemen who pre'
ceded him through all the irrelevant matter on which,
they touched ; but he begged now to call the council
back to the question before them—whether the water
was really wholesome or not. (Hear and cheers.) if it
were wholesome, then the people ought to have it, and they
would not object to have it. If it were not wholesome, but
pernicious and injurious to health, then the council
ought not to attempt to give it to the people, no matter
at what cost. (Hear. hear.) He was, therefore, greed,'
astonished at the result of the proposal made by gr.
Picton at a former meeting, when thatgentleman merely
requested that scientific men competent to judge should
be brought down here, that they should take the water
themselves from whatever places they thought advisable,
subject it to tests, and then report to the council whether
the water was or was not such as could be fitly given for
consumption to the people of Liverpool. (Hear, hear)*
He objected at the very starting to the manner in which
the analyses produced had been taken. He contended
that in such a case the council was bound to meet even
the prejudices of some of the community as well as their
reason, and that many were not satisfied with the manner
in which the water was taken from a particular place
and sent up to a gentleman in Lowlon. When the
council desired to satisfy the donbts of a great commit:
nity, some having suspicious dispositions, but all
interesting in the matter, they were bound to proceed
in a manner which would admit of no question or dispute.
The way to do this would have been by appointing three
or five gentlemen, eminent in their profession, to
take the water themselves, and say, from the result 0f
,
their own tests, whether it was really wholesome, and
such as ought to be given to the people or not. (Hot,
hear.) Dr. Taylor said there was an impregnation ce
peat in the water. What did that mean but it was beg
water ? (Hear, hear and laughter,) Water mixed with
peat was bog water, and every man who knew anything
about bog water, knew that no people living in
vicinity of a bog would drink the water. They won
go, as Mr. Jeffrey had stated, any distance to get awl_
other water, rather than bog water—with which in 1);,
own country, be (Mr. Shell) had certainly never We; r.
acquaintance. ( Laughter.) Therefore, when ~.voir
Taylor stated that such an ingredient was exceedill,D„,
difficult to get rid of, and suggested that it might be dons
by chucoal, be contended that that very statement tr;
itself was quite sufficient to call on the corporation.
adopt such measures as would enable them to deel 0
whether honestly, fairly, and justly to the town, it svoeor
bo safe and proper to give that water to the people so
not. (Cheers.) If the decision were that it was not swap
and proper, no matter what expense might be entailer.:
some other supply should be given for drinking Pe
poses than that, from Rivington. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Stitt said, having never enrolled himself under
the tattered and now somewhat besnattere-1 banner'
either of the Pike party or of their violent opponent:;
the anti Pikeists, and having never attached himself • a
either of the contending parties, he thought his positiotte
favourable one for bringingand unbiassed and unprjedlig
mind to the consideration of that most vital and jail:tette;
question. With Job like patience, since be entered tha;
chamber, he had sat hour after hour, never leaving tbb;
room, listening to statements which often vied in leeg,,,
with the much abusod line of pipes from Rivington4
Liverpool, and sometimes in their muddiness rivollee
the muddiest specimens of water which were peodtteebe
in that room. (Rear, hear, and laughter.) But
that
gentleman who had just sat down told them that 10,
question resolved itself into one of quality ; and he slro't,
glad that gentleman had drawn attention to that PI te
for it was upon it that all hung. To the clearly expre,egoe
opinion of any portion, whether rich or poor, higLi'el
low, of that great community, he thought the coe"
was bound to pay the most respectful attsittioo;
and therefore he held that the memorial wheiegi
came now before them should be respectlete
and attentively entart -tined. But where °no
pliance with the request of a portion of the inbabite is
would involve a very large outlay of the public monel'op
became those who made that request to present strtkies
valid, and substantial reasons why the council should COeit
ply it. Now, he believed, having listened with grol
care, that the memorial and the statements made sive°
not fulfil that condition. (Hear, hear.) He had not hetbe
such valid reasons presented as could convince him that d.
prayer of the memorial ought to be granted. The 01191-eIF
reason which could justify the council in so large"
expenditure was that the water was unfit for human ,ior
sumption—was unfit for the use of the inhabitants o' igtt
town—and that, he contended, was a question whiche ',fyet to be settled, and which had not been decide', to
anything he had heard. (Hear, hear.) The objeetOtes!
the water appeared to him to be three-fold. First' it
with regard to the colour ; second, that it conl"lse
hurtful ingredients, particularly what had been- s"„at
organic matter, said to be very injurious tohealth ; eolt
third, and a very important matter, its eletee
upon lead. With regard to the question of °ole
two explanations had been given. Oae was that aeste
portion of the land from which the water pee
was of a peaty description, mid that the water to a 6°9
extent partook of the peaty substances of the district. „et,
other was, that having come through a long line of Pl 4(
some twenty-five miles he believed, and those pipes baoilf,
been exposed to the atmosphere and become nee °,
corroded, the water when it arrived at Liverpool hole
necessarily partake of some of the corrosion through ri;ise
it passed. With regard to the first., he was not a chess 0
and he could not say what the effect of peat would beets
any large quantity, but he knew that the water 101_,)1
for some time at least delivered into Liverpool, al.ihouteolol6
in a pure state, and the statement made by Alderman rte
gathered from the dispensaries, was one which ough; tbs,
at rest a great deal of the alarm which was raised by,
vexed question. He might refer also to the etateo
contained in the reports of their own medical officer at the
the health of the town, from which it would appear thliott.
complaints which would probably arise from such ned die
ingredients, had not increased that year as comentireto
the previous year. (Hear, hear.) With regard ro ,e
J
organic matter, which canuot be separated by anY p
'of filtration, to hear of the organic matter tue
Rivington water one would suppose that tlifice,
habitants of this large bor-ugh had been pa)
tomed for many years to drink water perfectllo,o
and possessing no organic matter. (Hear, hear.) PI, dll
had taken the trouble to investigate the matter, Obey,
found, on taking the various red sandbtone seeels see:
Liverpool, respecting which so much had isveres sat' ;185
taking them as analszed by Mr. garePni St('
that out of 18 of these wells 15 had reeve and sone; erani
four times as much organic tnatter Rivingt%a u"t„
assuming Mr. Spencer's analysis tee
three of them had less, and thee mere decline seep/
When, therefore, persons talked 'about fill r
cos which would follow t 1,4 o the awful c° teat,
would imagine that ills- use of Rivington lisssetotr,
drinking water which sees' , he- corre.ct,_.ieferotwer
;dossed
had all their :„ereee!,
bt
As regards the debts.; e ssessed none of t. et:
contents said to be ne tte;o with, pr
state of the same,'
?here bad a erect deal to es, de
matter. As an . • individualb I' but ..1,0
struck with
solution el impartial be was .
of the
41ne variety of the dscriptions _
state
the difficulty seemed to be in thege
twcaatth/le, •
'me ,
at the time the specimens were taken' e of ugiP
e. Spencer's analysis was made on the ,orteeror
185 e
; and he found, from the report of lir•flb As
*', amount of rain which fell during that ow"