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33
of old pipes; this might be considered unavoidable, and
passed by because both parties will be, sooner or later, much
benefitted by the alterations. But persons have much
reason to complain when they find that after the expenses
incurred and the annoyance suffered they cannot draw
water from the main pipe, and that the butts and cisterns
must still be used. The object of the expense has not been
attained, and this is due to the fact that the New River
Company has encouraged and even insisted upon the
retention of cisterns and water butts for the storage of
water for drinking purposes.
In asking for the constant supply, the Vestry had one
object in view,—to enable the inhabitants of the parish to
draw water for drinking purposes direct from the mains;
and the Vestry deferred asking for the constant supply
until they were impressed beyond question, that it was impracticable,
therefore impossible to prevent the water being
polluted, and rendered unfit for drinking purposes so long
as it was stored in cisterns or butts; impressed that no
amount of sanitary supervision could make owners or
tenants keep the receptacles clean and covered ; that water so
stored and exposed in the deteriorated atmosphere of illventilated
premises, being the only supply available for drinking
purposes, it was evident, must be prejudical to health,
and that so long as the old intermittent system continued
one of the most essential agents for health was supplied
to the people in a polluted and deterrent form.
To show the purpose of your Vestry in asking for the
constant supply, I may be allowed once more to bring
under notice the communication forwarded from your
Vestry to the Local Government Board, requesting the
Board to direct the New River Company to give the constant
service, and setting forth in detail the circumstances
necessitating the change.