estimate. If a general resolution could be passed so as to give them power to look round and enable them to put their ideas together, it would, in his opinion, be the best plan for the present.
Coun. Winter very cordially sympathised with the spirit of the resolutions, but was sorry he could not quite support them. The subject at present was partly in the hands of a committee, and he thought till they had reported, and till they had Mr. Barlow’s opinion as to the supply of water, they had better not take any definite step. His own opinion was that the Bodiam stream was the best source of supply, but he wished to have Mr. Barlow’s opinion to fortify his own. From the continuance of dry seasons it seemed to be of no use to depend upon storing water in the winter from their present sources. They must go farther and do whatever was to be done with a strong hand. He would suggest waiting till they had a report from the committee.
Ald. Ross could not let the opportunity pass without thanking the Mayor for the great pains he had taken in the matter, both now and heretofore. He was of the opinion they should confine their attention to Bodiam river, and that it was rather a pedlling way to go to work about the small streams. That had been done, and had produced a failure at Ecclesbourne.
Coun. Vidler thought that in the way they were going on, the water-works were not paying their expenses. For himself it did not matter, because he had a good supply of his own; but he would like to know if the water question would stand on its own bottom.
The Mayor expressed a wish that the resolution should be withdrawn. His chief object was to give publicity to the subject, and he trusted it would be considered by the public as well as themselves. If it were approved of, their hands would be strengthened; and if not, no doubt, they would soon hear of it.
Ald. Rock, in withdrawing the resolution, remarked that three or four considerable streams had been exhausted. The Bourne used to run with a very good force, but that was [nearly] exhausted; the Ecclesbourne stream had been exhausted; the Priory stream was nearly finished up; and the Old Roar stream had been used up; so that, in fact, all the streams in the neighbourhood had been used.
What a commentary was this despondent tone of the meeting on the hurriedly passed resolution proposed by Councillor Howell out of the ordinary course, for the Local Board to endeavour to supply the western district as well as the eastern, and at a time when they knew not how to sufficiently supply the eastern district alone. Such a resolution really seems comical in -
