Belfast Civic Undertakings 3 



and of compelling all property owners both inside and immediately 

 outside the city boundary to comply with the plan of development. 

 Straight wide streets and roads are laid down on the plan where 

 they do not at present exist. Certain areas are reserved for 

 dwelling-houses, and certain other areas for factories and work- 

 shops. The result is a healthy development along the lines of a 

 scheme laid down by the Municipality, under the advice of the 

 most skilled advisers. No landowner, in order to make the most 

 of his little patch, may run awkward streets across his property 

 contrary to the general scheme, nor may he put up a different class 

 of property from that laid down. No fabulous sums are required 

 to be paid for street improvements, or for the pulling down of 

 buildings put up in awkward places. Sooner or later such powers 

 must be obtained. 



2. Belfast Harbour Commissioners. — In 1785 an Act was 

 passed appointing a separate Corporation to look after the interests 

 of the Port of Belfast. For the previous forty years the control 

 had been exercised by the equivalent of the modern Town 

 Council. The Commissioners are twenty-one in number, and are 

 elected for a period of three years. 



3. Belfast City and District Water Commissioners. — 

 Water is an absolute essential for cities, and for large centres an 

 abundant supply must be procured if the city is to grow either in 

 population or commercial importance. The necessity for an 

 ample water supply has, therefore, caused many cities to spend 

 enormous sums on colossal schemes. In fact the greater the 

 city, as a rule, the more costly the water supply. 



The Water Commissioners number fifteen, one from each Ward, 

 and are elected for a period of three years. They were incor 

 porated in 1840, when they took over the water supply as it then 

 existed from the Belfast Charitable Society. 



The Lecturer referred to the Water Supply in 1840. Woodburn 

 Reservoirs, seven in number, storing 15 15 million gallons, and 

 capable of giving 8 million gallons per day. Stoneyford Reser- 

 voirs, two in number, storing 820 million gallons, and capable of 



