Ha was told thut the portion of the iSilverstreiun supply was gener ally very unsatisfactory—that the open race was always falling iv ; and they all knew that the water supply was nearly always discoloured mid bad, aud that six mouths ago the town supply ran very short and they had to get a temporary supply at a very great cost. From the Silverslream supply they had to provide supplies for the suburbs, and he believed that at the presenttime the Caversham corporation was making 300 per cent, upon the water supply to that borough, and that South Dunediu was doing well, though the supply to that borough was not so largo. If elected ho would make ii. bin duty to investigate this question. With reference to the Leith supply, he was treading upon delicate

ground, because by his connection with his firm he was interested in that; but ho might say that before Inking any actiou in the council in ally shape or form whatever on the question of discussing the Leitli supply, if t.-li : r:tod, be would come before the ratepayers and tsll them the judgment he had formed upon the Silvcrfrtream and other supplies. He made this promiw, »)>>) he would ask the raporteis to iulte it down, be cause iv connection with this subject was n part of the parcel of the unworthy motives attributed 1c him in coming forward as a candidate-1 namcly, that he wanted to benefit his own pocket. He believed that tne water supply should be large ami reliable; for if there were a certain and full supply it would be used for machinery audmany other purposes, and th« demand for it ivouM h"- largely increased. He would now deal with the very much vexed question of gas. Here ho was treading upon still more delicate ground. As thtr were aware, it had been freely circulated by his oppoflest'J that his desire was either to lease the g»S~ works, to sell them, or to amalgamate tfteiY with the Caversham gasworks, or otherwise do that which he would not be justified as n public man—which if, he did do be. would bu unworthy of their confidence, and which they might take his word for it be never would do.—(Applause.) He would tell them plainly all about the pro posal he bad made regarding the gasworks. 