The ratepayers of the Metropolis, of Brighton, and of other
large towns, will do well to remember that this Government has not declared its intention of abandoning the Water Bill. 'On the contrary, Lord Beaconsfield spoke of it as an unim- portant affair ; and Mr. Cross, an Tuesday, in answer to Mr. Jenkins, Aided that "if in the next Parliament we occupy our present position, we shall certainly feel it our duty -to deal with what we must consider a great question,—the sufficient supply of pure water to the metropolis." Doubt- less, Mr. Croat will bring in a new and amended Bill, but -human feeling will induce him to show that he was right about the price ; and the Lord Steward (Lord Beauchamp), on the same night, told the Peers that he thought the objections to the price had been much exaggerated. Mr. Cross, too, will wish to compensate those injured by his blunder, and rate- payers may rely on it he will grant very nearly the same terms. If, therefore, they restore this Government to power, they may surrender the last lingering hope of a cheaper water .supply. Indeed, in the interim, the Water Companies, as appears from Lord Beauchamp's speech, will have raised their rates.
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