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with the Company, I ventured to point out that defect in respect
of "conjoint action and mutual help," which the Secretary professed
to desire, rested with the Company rather than with me,
for, as I stated, water is frequently cut off for nonpayment and no
notice is given to me; but when I find out that water has been
cut off I cause a notice to be served upon the owner of the house,
and so get the water laid on again as quickly as possible, much
to the Company's advantage.
My views, moreover, on the subject of cutting-off for nonpayment,
were not formulated for the occasion, but are of long
standing. In 1882, to go no further back, I drew up the following
propositions, which were unanimously adopted by your Vestry,
and may be cited as a general statement of my opinions on the
subject of water supply.
(a) That the Water Companies should be requested, if they are not by law
required, to give the Vestry notice in every case when they have cut off
the supply of water from inhabited premises, from whatever cause.
(b) That as the existence of waste-pipes connecting water cisterns with drains
constitutes a dangerous nuisance which ought to be universally abated,
application should be made to the Local Government Board under section
19 of the Water Act, 1871, with a view to an alteration of the 14th
regulation, so as to compel a Water Company to take measures for
abolishing waste-pipes connected with drains, and to give the Sanitary
Authority equal power with the Company to abolish waste-pipes, and to
enforce the regulations having a sanitary bearing, e.g., Nos. 9, 11, 13, 14,
16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 31, and 32.
(c) That if the existing law does not empower the Board to direct such
alteration of the regulations, the Board should be requested to promote
further legislation so as to confer such power and to compel the Companies
to carry out the regulations generally.
(d) That the Sections of the Acts conferring on the Water Companies the
power of cutting off the water from premises should be repealed, such
other powers to enable the Companies to recover rates or make good
fittings, &c., being substituted, as to the wisdom of Parliament shall be
deemed equitable and sufficient.
At the Meeting of your Vestry, held January 14th, 1885, it
was unanimously resolved:—
"That a copy of the Report of the Medical Officer of Health, and a copy of the
entire correspondence with the Grand Junction Waterworks Company,.