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117
The Special Committee appointed by the Vestry
in September, 1883, have continued during the
past twelve months, "to watch over all questions
relating to the water supply of the parish; to report
from time to time to the Vestry, as to the sufficiency
or otherwise, for domestic and fire extinguishing
purposes, as well as regards the purity and price ;
and generally to take such steps, and make such
recommendations to the Vestry as the Committee
may, in the interests of the Parishioners, deem needful."
Last year they presented to the Vestry a full
report of their proceedings to date ; this year they
have again carried out the terms of their appointment
by submitting at various times reports upon the
progress of current legislation on the water question ;
of the " constant supply " in this Parish ; and upon
better supply for fire-extinguishing purposes. With
regard to the last of these considerable correspondence
was carried on with the Local Government
Board, and their attention was drawn to Clauses
XXXVII and XLII of the Waterworks' Clauses
Act, 1847, which provide for a supply of water "constantly
laid on" for the extinction of fires and for
other public purposes. It is to be regretted that the
Board held that they were not empowered to enforce
these clauses for this purpose.
Water
Supply.
Mr. Torrens' concise and effective Bill "to declare
that the term 'annual value' in the 68th section
of the Waterworks' Act, 1847, shall mean "rateable
value" had the active support of the Committee.
It is satisfactory to record that the petition presented
by the Vestry, to the House of Commons, in
support thereof was considered by Mr. Torrens, who
presented it, to be of assistance to his object, and,