WATER SUPPLY. 857 



essential of life — water ; but whether in all cases that water 

 supply is a good one, both in quantity, and particularly in 

 quality, is another question. If a river or stream it may 

 possibly become polluted by drainage or mining operations, 

 and Avhat is a fairly pure article for consumption and use 

 to-day may in a few years prove totally unfit for domestic 

 purposes. 



Residents in small towns not possessing the advantage of 

 an adjacent stream or river, are dependent upon rain-water 

 caught from the roofs of their houses and conserved in tanks. 

 There is no objection to this method, provided the rainfall is 

 frequent, and that the tanks are sufficient in number or size, 

 and regularly examined as to cleanliness ; but we so often find 

 the storage of rain-water totally inadequate to the require- 

 ments. Occasionally an old packing-case or a barrel is made 

 to answer the purpose, and perhaps does so during the winter 

 months, and even then how frequently we find these temporary 

 receptacles exposed to polluting matter, with an accumulation, 

 perhaps to the extent of an inch or two, of sediment or 

 rubbish at the bottom of them. It is in the dry season the 

 trouble comes, and when the tanks fail recourse is had to an 

 adjacent well, if there happens to be one, with water of 

 doubtful purity, or even to the nearest waterhole with its 

 many attendant evils, laying perhaps the foundation of disease 

 or worse fatality. 



The storage of water, therefore, commends itself to most 

 people as an object of great importance. Dry seasons are of 

 frequent occurrence, during which the labouring classes in the 

 rural towns are deprived of a full supply, and have to resort 

 to impure streams, or stagnant water, the quality of which is 

 generally as bad as can be. 



Many of the towns in Tasmania are so situated, especially 

 where the rainfall is lightest, and the latter varies greatly in 

 different parts of the colony. 



Other towns are more fortunate, and in one case not only 

 is there a large and permanent fiow of water in the river, but 

 wells sunk on several properties yield pure water of an un- 

 exceptional quality. 



Upon this latter fortunate circumstance we need not 

 dilate, unless it be to show how that self same water can be 

 conveyed to every occupier in the town at a cheaper rate or 

 much less cost than at present. 



As Bailey Denton, M.I.C.E,, writes : — " The supply of 

 water to villages should not be dependent upon individual 



