The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-09 00:00:00

condensed form. When Mr. SCOTT'S defence
did make its appearance, it proved to bo no answer
to the charge—in fact, he allowed judgment to go
by default, and was permitted to resign.

Most people would have thought this exposure
would have had the effect of deterring subsequent
Water Committees from similar practices ; for a time,
certainly, it did produce a most salutary influence,
but this has by degrees been suffered to die out.
It was hoped by the Pikeists that the recollection
of these proceedings had passed away, and that
similar and even more reprehensible proceedings
might be perpetrated with impunity, the great
aim and object in every instance being to depre-
, elate the wells and exalt the Pike. The very same
system is now, we believe, being carried out with ap-
parent impunity, although by different instruments.
It was urged, as the reason of the Pike water being
introduced, or rather smuggled, into the town, cn
the 2nd January last, that there was a scarcity of
water in the reservoirs ; that several of the engines
had broken down ; that others were so dilapidated
that they could not be repaired ; and that, in the
event of a fire, there would not be a drop of water
weailable for the purpose of extinguishing it—just
the arguments and acts of 1818 repeated. Now,
we believe that every one of these statements can
be proved to be without foundation ; and we have
no hesitation in avowing this belief. If the supply
of water was so scarce as represented, why have
the mains been extended, tantalus-like, in
every possible direction where extension
was practicable, until they have embraced the
whole of the hamlets and out townships within
miles of Liverpool. To the south, our pipes
extend nearly to Garston ; to the eastward, they
are continued as far as West Derby, Woolton, and,
we -belive, Gateacre ; while, northerly, they supply
the inhabitants of Walton, &c., &e Surely, if the
water was so scarce as the Committee would
have us believe, it was a reprehensible policy thus to
squander our water abroad in all directions, when
it was so much wanted at home. Perhaps they
may justify themselves by urging that this
extension has added largely to the water
rental. We contend that this is no justification.
The Committee had no right to entail any loss,
risk, or injury, on the inhabitants of Liverpool, in
order to give a mere fictitious increase to their
revenue, or accommodate the residents of the
suburban districts, at the cost of the town.

But will the Committee inform the public how
they actually dispose of their present stock of well
water. Their engineers either know, or ought to
know, how that is done, to the greatest nicety
They can calculate, almost to a gallon, the quantity
required for shipping, for hydraulic cranes, for
baths and washhouses, and for all manufacturing
purposes, as well as the supply necessary for
fountains, watering streets, and extinguishing
fires, &c. Now, we venture to assert, that the supply
requisite for all these purposes does not at present
exceed one million of gallons daily, or six millions
per week of six working days ; and as the wells
yield forty two millions, we have thus thirty six
available for private use, or nearly thirteen gallons
to each man, woman, and child throughout the
town—a supply more than double what is abso
lutely necessary. We repeat the question which
we have repeatedly put to the Committee before
if this be true, how is the large surplus stock of
water disposed of ? The Town Hall authorities
will yet discover that a free and independent press
is neither to be gagged or cajoled into silence by
the giving or withholding of their paltry patronage-
The more respectable and most widely
circulated among our cotemporaries who have
opposed the foul Pike from the first, remain
steadfast in their opposition, notwithstanding the
assertion of the Pike hirelings to the contrary.
A cotemporary of yesterday, in a very able and
temperate article on the question, confesses that it

has yielded a somewhat tardy approval of the
suggestions which we made several weeks ago, as
the only feasable and practicable one for making
the Pike water available for the uses for which it
is only adapted. But he is in error in attributing
the origin of that plan to a member of the Council.

Be that as it may, we are happy to find our views
so ably supported, and we Teel convinced, the
more the subject is discuisel, he fewer will be
the valid objections to a fair and honest trial being
made of the plan for giving a supply of Pike and
spring water through the same lines of pipes, on
alternate days. But of this we shall have more to
say hereafter.

RATING OF PUBLIC BUILDINGI.—Some days ago, a Case
came before Mr. Mansfield, regarding the exemption
from poor rates of the Medical Institution, the Mechanics'
Institution, and the Lyceum, and yesterday his Worship
delivered judgment, deciding that the buildings should pay
the rates.
SUDDEN DEATH.—Joseph W. Coull. fifty eight years' of
age, a master mariner, who resided at 38, Upper Pitt street,
was fou❑d dead in bed yesterday morning. He was
overlooker at Messrs. Steels, and bore an excellent
character. He hal been ailing with disease of the heart
1)r come time past.—A child, named Henry Kenny, four
days's old, died in Addison street, from an over dose of
medicine.

CRYSTAL PALAM Leaer STREET.—IrI these days when,
`or the working classes, " helPays are few" and rational
amusements fewer," it affords us no little pleasure to
direct the attention of the artizans of the " Good old town"
to the advertisement in another column, announcing that
on Good Friday (to-morrow) this established and favourite
place of recreation and amusement will be open after
service hours, and that Mr. Holt will perform on the
Grand Organ, selccions of Sacred Music, at intervals,
during the remainder of the day, and also in the even-
ing. In reference to the closing of public places of
amnsetnent on Good Friday, a London eotemporary says :
" Whenever the Legislature touches or interferes with art of
any kind, how it bungles over its labour, and generally
bemuddles itself—how it breeds abuses and corruptions—how
it encourages practices opposed to all common sense, and
unjustified by anything like logic or reason. During Passio❑
Week the Lord Chamberlain—whose theatrical sway is in
reality absolutely clogged and encrusted by old mistakes, errors,
and misapprehensions—closes all the metropolitan theatres for
dramatic performances, and opens them for p inorianis,
diorama., cosmoramas, solverainas, concerts, conjurors; dogs,
monkeys, dwarfs, giants, ventriloquists, and "entertainers" of
every clas.. A single performer may, upon the stage, as,ume
the most fanciful disguises, and talk a groat deal of ribald
nonsense—can make of himself to his heart's content, a
buffoon ; but more than two persons are prevented by the law
from appearing in a comedietta, perhaps moral in plot and
purpose, and graceful in dialogue. Willy, nilly, the actors
must go from their unholy occupation, at this holy period ;
must severally abjure their salaries ; must abandon their
accustomed duties, and their wonted localities, to give place to
the motley group above mentioned. The lengthy canvass with
its glaring masses of inhumanity may unrol itself in the presence
of an admiring audience—the conjurors may excite the wonder
of the superstitious—the dogs, the !monkeys, the dwarfs, the
giants, and the "entertainers," may dance and sing, and
gambol as they please ; but the actor out of work must march
off for his holiday, which holiday is probably mostly employed
its the study and preparation of new parts and characters for
Easter novelties. The closing by the Chamberlain of the
metropolitan theatres during Passion Week is the only
instance on record of the Government preventing a class of
labourers from earning their daily food and maintenance ; we
therefore say, that if this course be so ignorantly continued, the
Government have a clear right to compensate their victims. On
the ground of morality the Chamberlain assuredly has no leg
to stand upon, for the most ardent admirers of Terpsichore
will scarcely maintain that a ballet is more severely moral in
its tendency than a comedy, a tragedy, or a farce. The way in
which the law is enacted is so absurdly lax, so monstrously
unreasonable, that we feel bound, in justice to the profession,
to call attention to an abuse which it is full time to rectify."