WATER SUPPLY. 861 



Governor in Council by the sale of debentures, at interest of 

 five pounds per cent, per annum, chargeable upon the 

 revenues of the public body until the original loan is 

 liquidated. 



To obtain this it is stipulated that 1 ]3er cent, of the interest 

 on the loan shall be set apart as a sinking- fund until the 

 Auditor-Genei'alshallcertify that such loan has been completely 

 liquidated. All moneys so set apart as a sinking* fund account 

 are to be credited annually with interest at the rate of four 

 per cent, per annum. Say, for instance, that a loan of £3000 

 is granted. The local public body must raise £150 per 

 annum in rates to repay the interest at five })er cent., and the 

 Treasurer sets aside £30 of this money yearly, bearing- 

 compound interest at the rate of four per cent., to the credit 

 of the sinking- fund. Thus in forty-one years the original 

 loan of £3000 is hquidated. In addition to the £150 raised 

 to pay interest, it is of course necessary to strike a rate 

 sufficient to cover both that and the cost of maintenance and 

 supervision ; but in a small community this would not amount 

 to more than eight per cent, altogether on the capital outlay. 

 It can safely be anticipated that the introduction of a good 

 water supply would revive and encourage industry, causing 

 an increase of i-esidential population, and yearly raise the 

 value of property, and consequently the I'ates. 



Every town with a population not less than 300, and say 

 fifty or sixty dwellings within half-a-mile radius, should be 

 provided with a permanent water supply, unless exceptionally 

 and badly situated ; provided also that the supply can be 

 obtained by gravitation within two or three miles, and that no 

 large sums are paid for compensation. Pubhc and private 

 feelings are generally in sympathy with a good water sup})ly, 

 and, as a rule, property owners are found to lend their assistance 

 rather than offer obstruction. 



A consumption of thirty gallons of water per head per 

 diem is a fair allowance for a rural town. For a population 

 of 300 this would amount to 9000 gallons jjer day, or 

 3,287,250 gallons per year. We will allow, say, five millions 

 of gallons to meet contingencies. Supposing, then, that a 

 source of supply is obtainable direct fi'om a stream or river 

 having a rapid fall within two mUes, and that circumstances are 

 favourable for a gravitation scheme, allowing a head of water 

 of fifty feet, a three-inch pipe would convey and discharge 

 over fifteen millions of gallons per annum, or three times the 

 above allowance. The cost of constructing such works, 



