Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-15 00:00:00

WATER COMMITTEE,

The usual weekly meeting of this committee ':'as held
yesterday, Mr. Jeffery in the chair. The other pntlemen
present were—Messrs. Ryley, Mellr)r, Rae, AVoodruff,
Vernon, Wagstaff, Chilton, Bennett, Crellin, and Earle.
The Engineer reported that the quantity of water
received from Rivington during the week ending the 12th
inst., was 50,649,677 gallons. The quantity pumped from
the wells during the same period was 30,946,925, making
a total of 81,596,602 gallons. The proportion of Rivington
to the well water was as 5 to 3.
Mr. Duncan, the engineer, farther reported that the filter
works santinued in good condition. On Saturday and Sunday
heavy rains fell at Rivington, and atone period the Angle-
zark rose two inches within the hour, equal to eight-and-
a-half million gallons. The rainfall for the week was
0.65 inch. THE WATER METERS.
A letter was read from the deputation which were
appointed at a meeting of the manufacturers, held
in the 'Clarendon-rooms on Friday last, asking the
committee to confer with them on the subject of water
meters. The deputation consisted of Messrs. Robin-
son, Stretch, Clarkson, Johnson, and Smythe, and they
were appointed to urge upon the committee the necessity of
reducing the charge for water to manufacturers to 14d. per
tun, and to preas the objections against the adoption of a
system which would compel consumers to adopt a meter
patented by tke engheer, and to urge upon them the consi-
deration of other matters touched upon in the meeting. •
When the deputation was called in,
Mr. Robinson read the following memorial
" Gentlemen, —We, the undersigned, being consumers of
water for manufacturing purposes, beg respectfully to request
your committee to re-consider your resolution wherein all
manufactories are to be supplied with water by the meter
after the 24th of March.
"We beg humbly to submit that the compulsory intro-
duction of the meter, as proposed, is a stretch of authority
not warranted by any Act of Parliament, under which you
are empowered to act ; and, as a question of expediency, is
not likely to increase the revenue derivable from such
sources, because the present price of 3d. per tun of 215
I gallons will cause large consumers to sink, or again to bring
into use wells of their own. Many instances of this kind
having occurred where parties who were paying from £2O
to £5O a year have ceased using the Corporation water
entirely, others who only use it as an auxiliary to their own
wells. Several firms are now bringing their wells again
into use for sanitary purposes, and th effect of this will be
that their water rates will be materially reduced.
"Your memorialists have learnt with astonishment that
your engineer, Mr. Duncan, has patented a water meter,
and that the meter supplied to consumers during the past
three years is exclusively 'his patent.
" Your memorialists respectfully urge that, as Mr. Dun-
can has had, and will have, a pecuniary profit upon every
meter he brings into use, he cannot be expected to offer to
your committee disinterested advice on a question that
affects his own pocket, and the relative advantages to the

water estate of meters, as against assessment. Your memo-
rialists cannot view without alarm the successful attempt
of one of their own servants to increase his income by forc-
ing upon the public an instrument, which will materially
tend to increase his present handsome salary of £BOO
a-year.

." Your memorialists are advised that the price charged to
the water estate for Mr. Duncan's metres vary from £5 to
£25 each, and even. to a still higher sum ; that the metre
has not undergone any scientific examination ; that it is
liable to constant disarrangement, and is soon worn out ;
and that even the very high metre rent charged by your
committee does not reimburse the water estate for the cost,
repairs, and interest of the capital invested in them.
' Your memorialists consider that the charge of from 16s
to £2 8s per annum for water rent is a very serious increase
in the cost of the water. This, together with insisting
upon an unduly deposit, reaching as high in some cases as
£2O, will act in many instances as a total prohibition to
parties about starting new manufactories in. Liverpool, and
to small consumers will be an increase of 50 per cent. on the
price of water now charged them.
" Your memorialists, therefore, beg your committee to
permit, as heretofore, the present or some other fair
arrangement for water supply, without insisting upon the
compulsory use of the meter; or, in the event of your com-
mittee, after fully investigating the question, considering
the meter necessary to a proper working of the water estate,
your memorialists respectfully urge that they and others be
permitted to use properly tested meters obtained by them-
selves, and tested in the presence of your committee's
officers ; and that you will make a reduction in the price of
your water from 3d to ltd per tun, which we are advised is
the real cost of the water. Such price, we think, will meet the
exigencies of the water estate, and give to manufacturing
consumers water on such terms as they may equitably
demand.

" Your memorialists do not want or ask for any special
privileges or exemptions, but are quite willing to bear a pro-
portionate share of water charges. At the same time, they
cannot but be struck with the discrepancy between the
expectations they had formed as to the effect of a bounti-
ful supply of water in a reduction of the price and the
attempt now made by meter rent, deposit, &c., to increase
it, to one class of consumers, at least from .50 to 100 per
cent."

The Chairman asked the engineer whether it was true, as
stated in the memorial, that the metres were exclusively
supplied by him.

Duiioan said that the statement was false. When he
first invented the metre, he brought it under the notice of
the committee' and expressed his willingness to give it for
the benefit of the public, if his own expenses were paid in
getting it patented. Since then fifty of these metres had
been introduced into Liverpool, and out of that he had not
pocketed one farthing. He was out of pocket at the pre-
sent time by that metre something very much over £lOO.
He offered the use of the metre if they thought worth while
to adopt it. As to his introducing it for any sinister pur-
pose, he disclaimed that entirely, He had tried to get the
best metre. There was none but what were faulty, and
his, he said, though he might be accused of egotism, was as
good as any that was made.
Mr. Woodruff said he recollected the conversation
which Mr. Duncan alluded to, and it was
then suggested that if the committee used the meter, they
should reimburse Mr. Duncan the expenses of getting it
patented.
In reply to Mr. Woodruff,
Mr. Duncan stated that he had never received any com-
pensation from the committee on account of the meter, and
he had been out of pocket to a large extent.
The committee promised to give the memorial their best
consideration.

Mr. Duncan complained of being charged by the depu-
tation of improper motives.

After some discasssion, the deputation were requested to
retire.

Mr. Robinson, before retiring, said they had no faeling
against Mr. Duncan. They only took the matter on a
public ground, and if they had stated anything that was
not correct, they would be happy to withdraw it.
Mr. Woodruff said he would move that if they continue
to use the metre, they should reimburse the engineer his
expenses for the patent.
Mr. Duncan said he had no desire to press it upon the
committee.

The Chairman said there could be no objection to reim-
burse Mr. Duncan, if they took the advantage of the
metre.

Mr. Ryley moved that the memorial be referred to the
.orks committee for consideration, and that the town-clerk
;port upon the legal points which it contained.
Mr. Vernon seconded the motion.

Mr. Campbell reported that at the Roddlesworth reser-
voir there was a flood, and that the impounded water was
discharged three feet one inch into the goit.
This concluded the general business.