general idea or outline of the project as a whole, but it is valueless to a Committee of ways and means desirous to come at a certain fixed sum of money.
18. Such a detail survey might or might not disclose a material reduction in the cost of carrying out the project by revealing a geologi- cal formation wore favourable to work against, than that supposed to exist. In dealing with such a large sum as the one involved in the prescut question, I need scarcely point out that the least variation from the bypothesis which! the engineer has had to assume in a preliminary reconnaissance, at once entails a modification of correlative magnitude in the Estimates.
19. Thus presuming that a detail survey for a reduced water supply such as the one ad. verted t in paragraph 15, entailing a total on lay estimated at £233,107, were to be set on hand, and that such a survey were to divulge absence of rock along the whole fine, it would at once be possible to effect an economy of say 20 per cent, or in other words of nearly £50,000. If, on the other hand, rock were dis covered to prevail throughout, it might be necessary to supplement the estimate by this
an
amount.
20.-Therefore, it is quite olear that whether to involve itself in the outlay of carrying out a water supply, or whether by reason of its great cost to reject it, the Government must found its decision upon the result of a detail survey,
23.I may here add that so far as I have been able to judge from superficial indications, the substratum is favourable to a reduction of the estimate, but until I have effected a proper detail investigation, I carefully abstain from committing myself to any assertion in this
matter.
22. The cost of detail surveys will be about $2,500. It is this sum which I have now the honour to request may be voted in order to ar- rive at a Batisfactory solution.
23. A further diminution of the now revised allowance of 15 gallons, would not be attended by the same wholesome reductions in the esti- mates which the first curtailments effected, be cause the praning kuife baving in accordance with the wishes of His Excellency been merci- lessly wielded, scarcely an item has been left upon which to retrench. This might perhaps be done by narrowing still further the water way of the channels, but the expedient is highly objectionable, and would bring about a repeti- tion of the error committed at Pok-foo-luso in baving a main too small to convey the supply which it was meant to serve,
24. In reference to the original project with its Winter allowance of 181 gallons, as submitted to His Excellency the Governor in my report of November last, I may add that it was based upon what was, after mature deliberation, deemed to be tho requirements of a people by no means smal- ler consumers of water that our own metropo- litan lower orders, whose quota averages 353 gallous for every man, woman and child inha- biting London and its suburbs. It is true that in England the bulk of this allowance is used for special and sanitary purposes, but it is none the lesa true that the sewerage of Victuria stands in similar need.
However, be this as it may, all arguments, however powerful and convincing, must suc cumb to expediency, and if the Colony is un- able to afford a liberal supply of water, it must put up with a redused provision. Under any circumstances, it is possible that the manner in which the whole subject has now been brought before the notice of His Excellency the Go- vernor in Council may not have been unpro- ductive of good.
I have the honour to be,
Sir, Your obedient servant,
J. M. PRICE,
Hon. J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Surveyor-General,
Colonial-Secretary.
The Conucil then went into Committee, Hon. JAS. WHITTALL thought that, before : making the vote, they should arrive at some conclusion as to what the Colony can pay,
and this was not very difficult. The reduced amount was a large one, and the Surveyor-General seemed to think that any smaller scheme to be satisfactory could not be carried out. Although the Colony was not as well supplied with water as it might be, still the inconvenience was not overpowering, and be thought could be fairly net at considerably less than the suggested outlay. To raise the gum would necessitate an annual expenditure of $200,000 if a sinking fund were made, and even a third of the snu proposed, or £100,000, would necessitate an Taddition of 25 per cent. on the present and
Police and other rates. That appeared to him fully as much as the Colony could afford.
Hon. Mr. AUSTIN said that supposing the cost was £230,000, the Surveyor-General gave them reasons for supposing that by a more careful survey much more might be taken off. Four per cent. would have to be put on the water rate to provide for the interest, and an increase of four per cent, for the sinking fund. But if it were reduced by a sixth, they would only have to raise six per cent.
His EXCELLENCY said that result would only be arrived at by baving a survey.
Mr. AUSTIN said they were not in a fair position to say what the cost would be, but he thought it was important to know that for such a eum as $2,500 they might very well have the survey, and he very strongly sup- ported the views which His Excellency had ex- pressed. If they were to take another course now he thought that the Surveyor-General had not been told to what limit the Council were prepared to go. But not having done so, it would be but fair to let that gentleman go over the ground, and see if he could bring his figures within something like what the Council would be willing to give. If he could reduce it fifty or sixty thousand pounds they would no doubt look upon it with great favour,
Hou, Mr. RYRIE thought that even if it were reduced some £60,000, it would be a very large sum, and more than the Colony could afford."
Hon. Mr. RoWETT said that even if with the reduced estimate of £200,000, considering the present condition of the Colony, it was mure than they could afford. His Excellency might be able to show the Council what ways and means could be provided to produce that sum, but until some scheme had been fixed it would be premature to say that they could act upon it, He should like to know if the Surveyor-General had had under contemplation at all the possibi- lity of their being any subterranean reservoirs, which might anve the Colony a great expense. He thought there would be no difficulty in getting at some. It might possibly be discovered that there was some subterranean reservoir near enough to the city to be used.
H. E. the GoVERNOR said be conld ondertake to say, from sneb knowledge as he had bimself of the subject, that the geological formation of the island forbade any such bope.
Mr. RowETT thought that at least a small sum might be voted to make some experiments of that kind.
Mr. HAYLLAR said there was one thing « bich bad not been taken into consideration, and that was the allowance as to subsidiary works which the Surveyor-General had recommended. thought, if they made him an advance they should increase it sufficiently to allow of full details of those subsidiary works.
it
16
Hịa EXCELLENCT said that there were only two alternatives, either to vote the sum neces-. sary for the complete survey, or to declare that even if the cost of the works were reduced to the minimum of £200,000, the Colony could not rote the money. He stated that upon sanitary grounds the Home Government had taken great interest in the matter, and knowing what be did, and what a great many did not know, of the sanitary condition of the city, and the evils which could only be remedied by a full supply of water, be thought they would fall short of their duty if they did not exert every menus in their power to secure a proper supply. There was no doubt that the necessity for the large Bumi at present was owing to the short-comings of those who had gone before them. Ho did not at present ask the Council to go into the the question of ways and means. He thought was possible if the estimate was duced to a reasonable sum to do something, but they must first have a survey. They must have sufficient data to go upon. The report was merely an outline to give the Council a general ides of the whole subject, and he thought they had in it the whole subject in a most satisfac- tory, lucid, and exhaustive way. The question was what they should do with regard to it. His opinion was that the proper step to take now was to vote a sum of money for the detailed survey, or, if the Council had a strong feeling on the matter, he did not wish to press it, and they could reject the scheme altogether. Au hon. member had suggested that the Surveyor- General might be asked if he could do the work for a fixed sum voted by the Council, but he (H. E.) knew the reply any professional man would make to this, that was, that they must find someone else to do it, as it was beyond his capacity altogether, that he had given an estimate for what would be sufficient for the suply of water he thought they would re- quire, and could do nothing else.
The
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