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effective way to check waste was to make the occupants of tenement houses obtain their supply from street fountains.

17. At a meeting of the Chinese Commercial Union held on the 14th November, 1902, it was resolved that in the event of tenement houses being served by rider mains the cost of laying these mains should be met by a special tax on the owners of Chinese houses in the districts concerned and that the cost of maintenance should be met by a permanent tax of 1% on the rateable value of houses in these districts.

18. The Secretary of State was informed by the Governor by cable on the 15th November that the entire expense of the rider main system would be borne by the owners of property affected.

19. The Ordinance and the petition having been referred to him by the Secretary of State, Mr. Chadwick reported in a Memorandum dated 19th February, 1903. He pointed out that the rider main system had been suggested by him "to mitigate the evils of an intermittent supply of water, always serious, but more so when the system of distributory pipes is not, as in the present case, expressly designed for this system of water distribution". He reiterated the advantages of the rider-main system in such circumstances, including these two important advantages--

(1) "In the event of a water famine water could be supplied to groups of houses

in rotation for such periods as the Water Authority shall prescribe.' (2) "Any tenement might, on the owner thereof accepting a supply by meter, and being responsible for payment of the bill for water consumed, remain in connection with the permanently charged main; realizing the advantages of a constant supply, even during a period of scarcity."

20. Mr. Chadwick recommended that the rider-main system be introduced. "Its effect will," he stated, "be threefold. First, it will mitigate the evils of the inter- mittent system, and secondly it will be a permanent improvement. inasmuch as it will facilitate the detection of waste. Thirdly, it will greatly facilitate the voluntary introduction of meters. Any tenement wishing for a constant supply at all seasons. may remain connected to the principal main.'

21. Mr. Chadwick was, however, definitely of the opinion that universal meterage should be the ultimate goal. "I maintain," he wrote, "that the meter system is the only system of rating which is thoroughly efficient and equitable.'

22. The Secretary of State for the Colonies telegraphed on 11th March, 1903, stating that he was prepared to approve rider-mains.

23. The amended Ordinance (No. 16 of 1903) contains the following clauses. relating to rider-mains :

Clause 11. The cost of constructing any rider-main shall be borne in equal shares per tenement by the owners of the tenements which such rider main is design- ed to serve, whether services to such tenements are subsequently connected with it or not. The cost of disconnecting any service from any principal main and con- necting it with any rider main shall be borne by the owner of the tenement to which such service is laid. The Water Authority shall determine what tenements are de- signed to be served by any rider main, and the cost of such rider main shall be apportioned by the Water Authority among the owners of such tenements. The cost of the rider mains and connections shall include a sum not exceeding fifteen per cent on the cost of the labour and materials to defray the cost of supervision and other charges."

Clause 12. "Any person owning or occupying any tenement may construct a service thereto for the supply of water from the waterworks. The construction of the service and the nature, size and quality of the materials and fittings shall be in ac- cordance with regulations, and, on the completion thereof to the satisfaction of the Water Authority, it shall be connected by the Water Authority to the Waterworks subject to payment of the fee specified for such connexion in the regulations, and in the case of any tenement situate outside a rider main district, or in the case of any