Mr. HARLE proposed that that clause be expunged.

Mr. Ald. KEENLYSIDE: You can't propose anything of the kind till you go to Parliament.

Mr. HARLE: Well, we'll go to Parliament.

Mr. HODGE said there was no objection now. Looking at the 15th section of the Water Clauses Act, he found there was no power by a side-wind, as he thought there might be, to alter the construction of water-closets.

Mr. HAMOND: That's very satisfactory.

Mr. Ald. KEENLYSIDE said the question all turned on whether they should pay 8s, or 10s, for water closets.

Mr. HARLE said their duty was to protect the public, and as this clause did not appear to accomplish that object, he moved that it be expunged.

Mr. Ald. KEENLYSIDE: You must move, then, that we go to Parliament. If you adhere to this, you will have to go to Parlia

ment next Monday.

Mr. HARLE said that, as a member of the Council, he proposed that that clause be expunged.

Mr. Ald. KEENLYSIDE: We have arranged everything except two points. One was the supply of water to fires, which Mr. Ald. Bell strongly urged we should give the company. The other is as to the

water-closets.

Mr. HARLE: You have to come to the pressure and purity. These are great questions.

Mr. Ald. KEENLYSIDE: We asked also in our report that we should have control over the pressure and purity. They are willing that we should have control over the hydrants, but they can't agree to the purity, because it would be an impossibility. Who is to prove the purity of the water?

Mr. HARLE: I shall say a few words on that point.

Mr. Ald. KEENLYSIDE: The present law is that they are to give "wholesome and good water." I think I have done my duty. I now move that it is inexpedient to oppose the bill in Parliament, on these concessions being made.

Mr. HODGE seconded the motion.

Mr. GREGSON begged to propose an amendment on that part of the clause which referred to the purity of water. It was the most singular proposition in the world to say that they had no control over the purity of the water. They knew that once in a day water was brought from the Shot Factory, which could not be pure. A good part of the water was now brought from the river. That, no doubt, was impure too; but would any gentleman tell him that when they asked for water, they had a right to take something like pea-soup? (Laughter.) The thing was absurd. A great part of

the water was not filtered. If they went to the cisterns they found a layer of mud in many of them. He maintained that they had a right to look after even the chemical purity of the water, and they had a right to look after its physical impurity. He held that they had an impurity of water that could be detected even by the eye, and which was neglected by their worthy chairman. It was a want of penetration on his (Mr. Ald. Keenlyside's) part. (Laughter.) They had a right to object to the impurity of the water.

Mr. HARLE said there was no difficulty whatever in ascertaining the purity of the water. The highest standard was Loch Katrine; and if the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee had taken any trouble, he would have found that the Registrar-General published every quarter tables showing the various purities of different waters; and the highest standard was in Scotland in the case of the water of Loch Katrine. If his friend (Mr. Ald. Keenlyside) inspected these returns, he would find various other waters set down as containing so much animal or vegetable matter. No man would tell the committee that there was any difficulty whatever in ascertaining the quantity of animal or vegetable matter in the water of Newcastle; and it was most important for the health of the community that it should be so. He, therefore, proposed that the Council insist on having some means of ascertaining the relative purity of the water.

Mr. G. FORSTER said that, strictly speaking, they were not at all in order in discussing the report that day. The question before them now because the committee had never seen that report as it stood before them-the simple question was, was there anything in that report which should induce them to forego their previous determination to oppose the bill? (Hear, hear.) He was far from being desirous to take objection on the technical ground that the committee had had the report presented to them without being called upon to agree to it, but he begged to mention that to the chairman for his future guidance, although he did not intend to take any advantage of it that day. He hoped that, in future, the committee, before a report was presented in their name, would have an opportunity of discussing, and agreeing to it or otherwise. The simple question, as he said, now to be considered was whether, having previously determined to oppose the bill, they should now forego that resolution? No doubt, some important concessions had been made. His friend, Mr. Harle, had a very opposite opinion to his own on that point. He thought the concession they had made as to the shutting off of the water in cases of fire was a most important one, and he was rather surprised that the company had yielded on the subject of the charges for the water-closets. Any additional revenue that might accrue under that head was at best speculative, but inasmuch as the extra charges proposed to be imposed in that department affected a higher class of householders, he did not think that there was anything unreasonable in the adoption of that report-(hear, hear)-- and upon the whole, he

thought it would be better not to oppose it, seeing that these concessions had been made, but rather to agree with the chairman in the proposition that they should not prosecute further their opposition to the bill. He thought there was more in the concessions than his friend, Mr. Harle, quite saw, and as the new tariff would affect a class of householders not very dissatisfied with it, he did not think they ought to persevere in their opposition.

Mr. Ald. BELL said Mr. Harle objected to the report as not having sufficiently laid down what was considered to be the standard purity of the water. Now, Mr. Harle, in his own mind, seemed to lay down Loch Katrine as the proper standard; but he would ask Mr. Harle how he was going to introduce into the county of Northumberland a state of circumstances similar to what prevailed round the shores of Loch Katrine?

Mr. GREGSON: Go to the Coquet.

Mr. Ald. BELL said that if even they went to the Coquet they could not have so favourable a state of affairs. The highest impurity at Loch Katrine was only 24 grains in a gallon; but he defied any one to go to any stream in this county and find less than 20 grains in the gallon. It was quite impossible, therefore, to lay down a standard; and it appeared to him that the Water Company had sufficiently protected them in that respect. All that the company were called on or proposed to do, was to supply them with "pure and wholesome water." They lived in the county of Northumberland, and must accept such water as rain and the mountains of Northumberland gave them, and better they could not get. They must, therefore, consider themselves sufficiently protected on that point, and he would remind gentlemen that it was by no means true that water with 2 grains of impure matter was one whit more wholesome than water containing ten times that quantity.

Mr. HAMOND, as to the alleged opposition referred to by Mr. Forster, said the Council had come to no resolution to oppose the bill. There was merely a petition presented against it to obtain a locus standi. Now, as the bill came on on Monday, he believed it was only fair and reasonable that they as a Council should agree that it would be inexpedient further to oppose the measure. There was one thing with regard to the water-closets-those best able to pay were those on whom the increased charges would be levied. The water-closets remained as they were, and at present a gentleman who paid a rent of from £20 to £40 was charged only 8s. Under that rule, which would henceforth be altered, they would be liable to pay in one case 12s. and in the other case 16s., and for every additional water-closet one-half more. So that they really derived a benefit under the new arrangement. He believed it was a very great advantage to this town, and he did not see, on the whole, that any good would come from further opposition to this bill. He hoped the Council would come to the conclusion that the Water Company had met them in a fair and liberal spirit, and that under the cir cumstances their petition ought not to be prosecuted.

[ MARCH 7,

Mr. HODGE remarked that before Mr. Harle persevered in his observations, they must remember that the Parliamentary Com. mittee were disposed to admit that they had sought to have inserted in that bill what turned out to be an unprecedented and unusual clause, giving them the power not only to test the pressure of the water but also its purity. Now, if they took the vote of the Council as to whether in effect they would go and oppose the bill upon the clause relating to the purity of the water alone-because that seemed to be the only clause in dispute-they would have the very difficult task of having to originate an entirely new clause in a bill of that kind, which he was sure would not be carried. No doubt the Parliamentary Committee of the Corporation had examined for precedents before they would have sought to introduce the purity test. Therefore, that Council would, he thought, hesitate before they ventured upon an opposition which he thought under the circumstances might at all events be designated as a very hopeless one. Under these circumstances, he must support his friend, the chairman. With reference to the observations which fell from his friend, Mr. Ald. Bell, about allowing the company to cut off the supply, the question would arise as to who would be responsible supposing a fire were to occur in another locality? In a large district like this there might be two fires, and what would be done in that case?

Mr. Ald. BELL: Keep the pressure on both.

Mr. HODGE said that would give them more trouble still.

Mr. Ald. KEENLYSIDE rose to reply. He said the remarks of Mr. Harle had been so completely answered, that he thought it quite unnecessary to say anything further. With regard to the general remarks on the bill, also, he thought enough had been said. He, therefore, pressed for the withdrawal of the opposition.

Mr. HARLE said he should insist on the insertion of a clause for the purity of the water.

Mr. Ald. KEENLYSIDE: No, no It is inexpedient to proceed with any opposition against the bill. (Cries of "Divide.") Mr. Forster has remarked on this report not being before the committee. It was quite impossible to get the committee together, and what is moreit was a statement of facts which were stated before the meeting. There was no necessity to call a meeting together to support a mere statement of facts.

Mr. GREGSON objected to that statement. Mr. Ald. Keenlyside had no right to bring a report there which he had not previously brought before the committee. (Cries of "Order.") He begged to repeat, that was not the report of the committee, and Mr. Ald. Keenlyside had committed a breach of etiquette in bringing it forward. He protested against such a proceeding.

The opinion of the meeting was then taken, when it was agreed to accept the compromise, and the report was accordingly adopted.

THOROUGH TOLL AND THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY.

Mr. Ald. HODGSON moved that the Corporate seal be affixed to two leases of cottages at the outskirts of the borough necessary for the altered line of the Thorough Toll.

The motion was agreed to, nem. dis.

THE MOOR AND THE BLYTH AND TYNE RAILWAY COMPANY.

On the motion of Mr. Ald. HODGSON, a valuer was appointed of a portion of the Town Moor taken by the Blyth and Tyne Railway Company.

THE ADJOURNMENT.

Mr. HAMOND moved that the Council, at rising, adjourn till the second Wednesday in April.

Mr. HUNTER Seconded the motion, which was carried.

THE NEW PUBLIC QUAY.

Mr. Ald. BELL moved the sealing of a contract which had been provisionally entered into by the Corporation with Mr. Marshall for the construction of 190 yards of the new public quay, North Shore. The contract price was £11,800, payable monthly at the rate of 80 per cent. of the work done, the remaining 20 per cent. to remain in the hands of the Corporation until the contract was completed.

LEASE SEALED.

Mr. Ald. BELL moved that the Corporate seal be affixed to a lease of premises at Walker, to George Summerbell, in lieu of the leasehold premises agreed to be surrendered by him, under an arrangement effected with the Finance Committee, 1,200 square yards. Rent, £5; term, 62 years. They had, he said been obliged to make the exchange in consequence of the contemplated bridge to be formed there.

The motion was unanimously assented to.

PAVING AND FLAGGING.

Mr. Ald. WILSON moved the application of the provisions of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Improvement Act, 1865, relating to the formation of New Streets to the streets undermentioned:-That such streets be sewered, paved, and flagged with the materials, according to the manner and levels specified by the Town Surveyor in his estimate of the costs attending the several works, within one calendar month, from the 10th day of April next. That such estimates be adopted and confirmed by the Council, and that the