The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-11-17 00:00:00

WATER SUPPLY.

Manchester, says Mr. Hawkesley in his very confident
letter to the Town Clerk, is seeking possession of a terri-
tory whence to-derive water, smaller than that he has sug-
gested for Liverpool, and calculates on higher results.
Why, he asks, should his Liverpool friends doubt? And
then he pledges himself that both as regards quantity and
quality, the proposed district will "afford all the
1.•

tant town of Liverpool requires."
These points in Mr. Hawkesley's letter are open to
strong observation. They neither give nor suggest the
real merits of the case as they will unquestionably appear
before a parliamentary committee; and the publication of
the letter would seem to justify an inference that the com-
mittee of the Town Council are impressed with the notion
that a mere expansion of the assertions in it will obtain
water cheap and plentifully.
It is very true that the Lyme district, whence the Cor-
poration of Manchester are seeking to procure water, is a
less surface than the " territory" which is to send its ac-
cumulations to Liverpool. But there is a little disinge-
_

nuousness in passing by what will be found a " great
fact" in the committee-rooms of parliament—that from
the "Lancashire district" these will be hosts of claims
for compensation—compensation in %rater, and not money
—and that the Lyme district' is exposed to no such de-
mands. There are no mills, print-works, and bleacheries
supplied by the drainage of Lyme Park ; not even on the
sides towards Disley and Stockport. In the "Lancashire
district" these establishments are numerous ; and the men
of those parts are too wise in their generation not to un-
derstand their pecuniary interests as well as their business
convenience. Allowing for the compensation in water
that will be demanded, and must be conceded, the yield
from the hills of Lyme will be at the very least equal to
that of the Lancashire district, whilst the works will
scarcely cost more than one-fourth of what Mr Ambrose
Lace considers moderate for Liverpool—£4so,ooo.
Then comes the very simple question, wby we in Li-
verpool are to doubt Mr. flawkesley's assurances. We
are not aware that any engineer, even of the most estab-
lished reputation, is, upon his mere ipse dixit, to he ex-
empted from reasonable doubt, when a most important
branch of his estimate, which affects both cost and quan-
tity, receives the barest possible notice. We take leave,
and we believe many persons do, to intimate a con-
siaPrAhis. Fes M. LI C--

quantity as well as price. The proposed district will af-
ford, perhaps, all that Liverpool can possibly require ; but
this is not the whole question. The question is, whether
there will be sufficient, not only to supply Liverpool, but
to feces-co--rho—district it‘elf -sunicletit for Its preSetif
actual consumption, with provision for a rapidly increasing
population, alive to the sanatory value of an adequate sup-
ply, as well as to the imperative necessities of extending
establishments connected with manufactories. When
these contingencies are considered, engineers of equal
eminence with Mr. Hawkesley will unquestionably agree
with ordinary pers3ns, not professional, that they con-
tain within them the elements

of future, if not of present,
insufficiency. Then as to price. Some of the parties in-
terested in the drainage of the proposed district may ac-

cept a money compensation for what is taken from them,
seeing that the Corporation of Liverpool has a good ac-
count at its bankers. All claims of this description must
enhance the price in Liverpool. On the other hand, those
who require compensation in water, will need it in
-‘7 large mlAnt;.i.... ••. -

very large quantities. Alt claims of this description will
reduce the aggregate yield, and materially operate upon
the quantity sent hither. So far from each person having
30 gallons per diem, as Mr. Lace said, or twenty, as Mr.
Hawkesley suggests, these compensations will reduce the

minimum, if we remember

rigntiy, spoken of in the report of the Sanatory Com-
missioners. A falling off in quantity, and an increase in
price, however small, are not so very far beyond the range
of probability as to make it a misdemeanour to doubt
some of Mr. Hawkesley's assurances. They will all be
thoroughly tested-in the forthcoming " tug of war," and
Mr. Hawkesley must be prepared to meet others just as
resolute and as competent as the opponents who perplexed
and defeated him in the last session.
We profess to be admirers of consistency as much in
practical men of business as in those who guide us in
politics ; and if a man commits himself to a great principle,
either in deliberate writing or in solemn testimony, we
like to see him adhere to it. We give Mr. Hawkesley
all credit for merit as an engineer, but the fatal facility of
thinking aloud has been the means of causing him some
reproach. Certainly many of the opinions he has pro-
pounded on the subject of water management are in
curious contrast to the task he has undertaken for the
Corporation of Liverpool. He is endeavouring to give
them the means of furnishing us with water, although be
is absolutely convinced, and the conviction has been
proudly published by himself, that they are not a fit body
to have such a duty entrusted to their charge !
We refer to this gentleman's evidence before the Sana-
tory Commissioners—all of which is based upon the prin-
ciple that local bodies are, for many reasons, incompetent
to serve the public in the case of water supply, au.] other
purposes. Here are a few passages :
I think it wo

ius to invest any local body with
new powers of expenditiire, without the means of supervision
and regulation, by-a competent superior authority, to protect
and promote the true interests of the community. Pp. 92, 93.
Again,

It is impossible that common local authorities, subject to all
local interests and influences, could conduct such an important
business with am/ proper degree of efficiency, foresight, and
economy. P. 93.
This is rather plain speaking; but Mr. Hawkesley no
doubt believes still what he said in 1844, although he has
not thought it beneath him to help one of these local bodies
to conduct " the important business" of water supply,
knowing beforehand that they could not conduct it with
efficiency, foresight, or economy. One passage is not very
complimentary to the morals of these incompetent local
bodies :--

The worst and nzost inequitable provisions in private acts are
usually to be found in the acts obtained by corporations, and
other bodies having the command of the public purse. P. 95.
Another, equally candid :
The projects of public bodies are always to be looked upon
with suspicion, and require the most close, preliminary, and
disinterested investigation, as to the propriety, efficiency, econo-
my, and equity of the measure proposed. P. 95.

Mr. Hawkealey must really excuse us for raking up some
of his opinions, seeing that we have the same end in view
as himself—the public benefit. They were read against
him with some effect in one of the committee-rooms last
session. He shivered with anxiety to explain. Possibly
his ingenuity will enable him to make out a plausible case
in his own justification.; and we are too charitable to sup-
pose he would apply such language now to the Corpo-
ration of Liverpool. His words, however, remain upon
record, to be taken for what they are worth.
In our next publication, we shall endeavour to show
the Sanatory Committee, and the public. that much mis-

conception has heretofore existed as to the abilities of the
present companies to give a greater supply of water than
what they at present do.; if we are correctly informed,
and we believe we are, both water companies could give,
in case of need, nearly double the quantity which they do
at present.

STATE OF THE REPEAL FUND

Some very instructive revelations respecting the state of
the Repeal exchequer have made their way into
Dublin Mail. They are, we have reason to bet:
stantially correct, and, being so,
mended to the perusal of the impertin
publication of the audited accounts ot
of the enormous sums of money swallowed up betweea
the years 1843 and 1846 :
" At the meeting of the finance committee of tt
veal Association on Wednesday last, the sum
being the subscription of the associatir-
Tent intended to be erected to tb
Davis—was submitted for final audit
discharge.
" Mr. Steele, head pacificator, &c.,
ment. The Young Ireland party (thou
late patriot) had disentitled the memory
to any testimony of est-
party such as that ass,
" The Liberator t atter some altercation
rose and made the following remarkable ot
which we will not venture
tary would be in the last deg,.
The Liberator.—l disagree witt
Steele, in suggesting political con&
tion of this kind. It is purely e
be so treated, and, for that reap
with very great humility, that
postponed for a few days, until m'
and treasurer of the associati,
They are very nearly complete

speak with certainty as to
no doubt that I shall bi f
peal Association is in my
£6OO to £7OO on a genera

circumstances, you o

" The finance com

.eem from

ciamouiers for a

Mr. Thomas
order to its

opposed its p

upuaW.
oral foroe

both sides)

vations,
to comment upon, as commen-
.

,e Impertinent

1 balanc
ght to be

y beloved frien

eration

.s the trustee

wound up.
th I cannot

SHOP IMPROVEMENT

ink. n

Ijourned tine c

notice the numerous

eats rec

external appearance, as ;

of many of our ahoy

modern- " go-a-he

Son have

now so complete m every der 'ttn
invidious to particularise. An
entirely novel, an,' 1 c
goods, we should not omit ._ iciu
infused, the back is fitted with three ~,,..
centre one of which is the royal arms, and on to..
others appropriate labels. The frames of all three are of
boldly relieved paper machee, from designs by Mr. Keys,
and their effect is admirable.
Tun INFANT SAPPIIO.—The first of a series of con-
certs, by the "Infant Sappho" and the Tyler Fami►
commenced last night, at the Liver Theatre, and
turously and deservedly received, thnuel
say, by a very slender atm._
want of due and sufficient notice.
the musical and vocal powers of the " In
known, they would I— -'- -
houses. The little
extraordinary corn

Particularly cau.

to the

equatel

She sang a number of soli

expros
npare,