Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-11-06 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES. LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1857

their proceedings in regard to the water supply,
but their whole career has been characterised
by a total want of discernment, combined
with a blind confidence in those, whom
we much fear, were bent upon misleading
them. They have shown, on all occa-

sions, a profound ignorance on every, even
the most important, details connected with the
Works. Take the introduction of the Pike
Water into Liverpool, on the third of January
last. Why, the Chairman himself was totally
unaware of that most important event, until he
learned it through the medium of the press ;
even more than this, although the Committee
had passed a resolution that the water was not
to be supplied without their sanction, yet, in
defiance of that order, and even without
their cognisance, it was so supplied,—a pretty
convincing proof of the respect entertained by
their subordinates for the Committee's instruc-

tions. Again, a question was mooted in council
as to what portion of the town was constantly
supplied, and what districts were not, when the
Chairman admitted his inability to give the
required information, although this was a matter
of vital importance. The fact being that,
notwithstanding all the fuss and balderdash
spouted about a constant supply of water at high
pressure, Liverpool never has enjoyed, never will
enjoy, any such boon. Since the introduction of
the Pike Water many districts of the town have
been left, for days' together, without a drop of
water ; and, as no provision was made for such
contingencies, the inhabitants experienced greater
privations than they ever did, even under the old
interrnittant system. The leading mains can,
as they always have been, be kept constantly
charged for extinguishing fires without difficulty;
not so the branch services, where there are,
sometimes, nearly a hundred faults to repair in
one day, and these repairs cannot be executed
without turning the water off the entire district
where they occur ; constant supply, under such
circumstances, is sheer fudge—a delusion.
At the Council Meeting, on the 19th ultimo,
Mr. JEFFERY inquired of the Chairman of the
Water Committee whether there existed any
plan delineating the Pipeage throughout the
borough; he was answered in the affirmative,
and promised the document in twenty minutes.
A messenger was despatched express to Hotham
Street, but after the elapse of nearly two hours
it was not forthcoming, nor was it produced
during the entire sitting of the Council ; in fact,
the map was not in a state to be produced.
But Mr. JEFFERY had taken care to fortify
himself with facts, acquired independently of the
Water Committee, or their officials, and the
production of these took all parties by surprise,
and none, more so, than the Chairman of the
Water Committee, who learned more of the
pipeage from Mr. JEFFERY'S clear and intelligible
speech. and the statistics he furnished. than he .
had done during his whole tenor of office. In
short, the Water Committee have been studiously
kept in the dark on every point of importance
which they ought to have been fully informed
upon. They have been a mere body of record
to sanction the payment of their
*servants'
stipends and other demands, and legalise the
proceedings of those who profitted by their
credulity and supineness.

But all these illusions must be brought to an
end. The Water Committee, as at present
constituted, are not the men to dispel' them.,
Routine—that curse of public bodies, has ever
been upon them. They have seen with other
men's eyes, heard with other men's ears, and
spoken with other men's tongues; hence, the
absolute necessity of others being appointed on
that important committee pledged to pursue a
totally different line of policy,—nten, who will
insist on tearing asunder that veil of mystery and
secrecy which has enshrouded the whole of the
doings of those connected with our Water
supply. Such men, the Council count amongst
their numbers, and, we trust they will do their
duty to their constituents by sending the " right
mea to the right place " on this occasion, at
all events.

DEPARTURE OF LORD 13ROUGDLIM Lordship left
fir home by the train departing from Lime-street at 3 30
p.rn , having been called away by letters which he had
received during the day.

LORD BROUGHAM'S VDIT T,J THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND
MUSEUM—Before proceeding to the Liverpool Institute
yesterday, Lord Brougham visited the Free Pubdc
Library and Museum, in Duke-street. His.Lerdship was
accompanied by Mr. William Brown, M.P., and ws
received at the door of the Museum by the chairman oc
the Library Committee, Mr. Picton, and several members,
including Messrs.: Steains. Woodruff, Bennett, Aikin,
Hodson, and Stitt ; Dr. Hume and several other gentlemen
were also present. His Lordship went though the
Museum, in which In evinced much interest, and then
entered the Library, where he received details as to the
number of volumes it contains and the average of readers
daily attending. His Lordship expressed the deepest
interest and gratifi nation in the extent and arrangements
of the library and museum.

TrIE
NE,DITERRANEAN TELEGRAPIL—A telegraphic
c ‘ronaunication, dated Cagliari, from Mr. Newall, the
manufacturer of the cable, has already announced the
success of the operation of laying down the telegraphic
line to Spartivento, in Sardinia, and that communication
with Algeria was complete. The p'omoters of this
important enterprise may be congratulated on the fact
that, after more than one failure in the attempt to lay
down their line, they have obtained the reward of their
perseverance. By this means the French Government
have a direct telegraphic communication with their
African possessions in Algiers. The cable on leaving
Spezz'a is carried under the sea to the northernmost part
of the Island of Corsica which island is crossed overland.
From the south of Corsica a submarine cable crosses the
straits of Ben;faeio, and is landed on the north of the
island of Sardinia. The telegraph crosses the island, and
is submerged at Cagliari, or Cape Spartivento, the most
soathern part of Sardinia, and then passes under the sea
to Bons, on the Algenine territory. The difficulties in
laying the line across this latter portion have been very
great, owing to the inequalities of the bed artd great depth
of.the waters of the. Meditenaue4n. At Cone prtjithe