The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-08-12

: recommended by the Finance Committee
The item was deferred until the repor
+ of the committee could be found by tn
Secretary.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
His Excellency Mr.. Gibson said he woulC
now call the attention OF the Assembly L
several new items be should ask to hav,
inserted in the Appropriation bill under the
head OF the Interior Department. The
first was, repairs and additions TO water
works, $35, 900. At the last session $175, O0C
were inserted for this object. II was in
tended by the late Minister OF the Interior
10 do the work on a large scale. and that
an item should be inserted in Loan Act for
carrying it out. At present he was not in
favor OF any loan measure, only what
could be obtained in an ordinary way from
monied men Of this country. The time had
not arrived for the city to undertake wa
! ter works on an extensive scale. 1t would
( do if the city contained 100000 inhabi-
| tants and he hoped TO live to see that.
/ Upon inquiry Of the Superintendent of
! the Water Works he found the present diff
| Guilty was not the insutficiency of water
/ but the delivery. The pipes were too
small. If larger ones were put in, nearly
double the present quantity OF water would
be obtained. He had authorized the SUI
perintendent TO put on a gang of prisoners
to dig trenches for laying the water pipes,
and hoped the Legislature would appro-
pirate an amount not only for this work,
but also for a new reservoir. The laying
of the pipes would cost $12, 900. The work
can be accomplished mainly by prison la
Dor, though a few other laborers are en-
ployed. The material is all to hand, and
those water pipes which have been lying
on the r0ad-an eyesOre-will be placed
where they can furnish a larger and more
effective supply of water. The sum of
1900 will insure the delivery of greater
supply. Upon investigation at the source
OF supply it was found that water of the
utmost purity could be obtained by build
ing another reservoir. Such a reservoir
would cost 81 900, probably less. The land
was held by the Queen Emma estate, and
proposition had been made whereby the
Government could obtain it on fair terms.
He would fix SIS 900 for the reservoir and
land. The Superintendent says that new
pipes are absolutely necessary i'll some
parts of the city. Some of the pure water
and some of the water at present supplied
to the city was exhibited a short time ago
in store in town, and there was a great
contrast in the two samples. All the
water used ought to be first boiled With
an additional reservoir they could get
good and pure supply of water. He hoped
the item would pass,
Mr.. Castle said he was delighted to find
that he was in accord with the Ministers.
He was glad to hear there was to be no
Loan Act. He would ask the Minister
how he proposed to borrow money down
town without Loan Act
His Excellency Mr.. Gibson said the esti-
mated expenditure was s., $50 500 81. OF |
that amount 1867 900 was in bonds Care
has to be taken in presenting an official !
document, and he was satisfied this had |
been done. There never had been an |
Over-estimated list of expenditures pre-
sented. He believed the estimates would |
be fully So 900 900. With regard to the |
present basis of estimation there were
numerous applications before the Interior |
Department for land. One person wants
to spend 1000 for new land made by the |
which $4,000 building would be erected |
There are forty-six applications for small |
lots of land in the town and in the coun-
try. Some of these could be properly |
considered, while some of the land would !
have to be put up at auction. From a
rough estimate this would realize not less
than $50 900. This Assembly had thought it
proper to establish Postal Savings Bank.
The Government has to pay per cent on
deposits. This was kind of floating debt
for the Government to make use of. Al
though the Assembly had swollen the APP
preparation, he thought it might still be
added to.
Mr.. Thurston said he did not know
whether he was good Government man,
or whether the Minister of the Interior
was one of the Opposition One of the
measures he intended to strenuously oppose
was a Loan Act to be spent in general
purposes by this administration. He was
glad to hear there was to be no loan bill.
Now is not the time for extensive water
works. If water can be brought down
from Luakaha for $50 900, it will be money /
well spent. There is one thing that has
been overlooked. and that is that the water
does not belong to the Government.
His ExceIlency Mr.. Gibson said it be-
longed to the Crown.
Mr. ThurstOn said he owned some him
self This year and last year had been
wet years. There had been no water suits /
this year. About year and half ago |
the Government took some water, and |
suit was instituted, ending against the !
Government. He had seen it very dry at !
Luakaha some years. The Government /
cannot say it has solved the problem yet
Mr. Castle said he did not suppose the /
Government knew much about the mat /
ter. It's members are new, and should /
acquaint themselves. The Government /
cannot take this water for public use. The /
difference between $4,000 and $50, 900 |
would not pay for water rights.
His Excellency Mr. Gibson said what /.
the Government proposed to do was only |
to avail themselves of the water the Gov |
eminent has control of. As to the extinC- /!
ton of water rights no preparation had /
been made. Before a new reservoir was |
built it would be necessary to settle some /
claims.
Mr.. Castle said he did not oppose the /