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live out of three Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council whom it was advisable to consult before expressing to Your Lordship the views of the Government upon this important question.
2.
As soon as the Report was received it was published in order to elicit through the local Press and otherwise criticism on the part of the Public on respective schemes proposed by Mr. Price. But beyond a unanimity in favor of something being done, the consideration of the matter has not been much furthered by the public discussions which have arisen.
3.
In order to avoid reference to previous Despatches and Reports, I will shortly detail what has taken place: Since Mr. Price took in hand the subject of Water Supply. After a preliminary survey of all the Watersheds in the Island it appeared that the Tai Lam Valley alone contained sufficient collecting area to meet the admitted wants of the Colony. The cost, however, of bringing the stored water into the City being estimated at £939,000, was out of all proportion to the capabilities of the Colony, and before entertaining further