HALIFAX WATER WORKS. JOHNSTON. 99 



Riparian Rights. 



When the Halifax Water Company decided to bring the 

 water from Chain Lakes there were several mills situated on. 

 the stream flowing from the lakes and enjoying the privilege of 

 the water from them. Some difficulty having arisen in securing 

 the rights to the water, it was seriously contemplated by the 

 company to bri'ng the water direct from Long Lake. However, 

 an agreement was eventually made in 1849 with the owner of 

 the privileges, that for a consideration of 500 the water com- 

 pany could build dams and take the water from Chain Lakes, 

 provided that they would not interfere with the natural flow 

 through the lakes as heretofore enjoyed by the mill owners. 

 The first difference arose in 1863, when the commissioners of 

 water-supply received a letter from the attorneys of the mill 

 owners, stating that the mills had closed down for want of 

 water, and that in previous years the water company had let 

 down a supply in dry weather. The commissioners on this 

 occasion gave orders to their superintendent to let down enough 

 water to fill Chocolate Lake, on the understanding that this 

 was not to be taken as a precedent or to act as any acknowledg- 

 ment of the rights of the mill owners to the supply, and on 

 April 13th, 1863, they presented a lengthy report dealing with 

 these claims. From that time to this there has been constant 

 friction with the mill owners as to the amount of water which 

 should be let down to them under the agreement. This has cul- 

 minated in an action being brought by them for a declaration 

 of their rights and an injunction restraining the city from 

 interfering with their supply. As this is now before the courts 

 the question may not be discussed fully, and is mentioned only 

 to serve as an example of the necessity for looking to the 

 demand for a largely increased supply always following the 

 introduction of water to a town in a short time, and of the 

 advisability of either securing all the rights to a watershed, or 

 at least, having a definite agreement as to the actual quantity to 



