te, may be
settled by arbitration. If any house is without a sufficient supply,
and it appears that a supply can be furnished at a reasonable cost, as
defined in the Public Health Act and the Public Health Water Act 1878,
the owner may be required to provide the supply, and, if he fails, the
council may themselves provide the supply and charge the owner with
the cost. All public sources of water-supply such as streams, pumps,
wells, reservoirs, conduits, aqueducts and works used for the
gratuitous supply of water to the inhabitants of the district are
vested in the council, who may cause all such works to be maintained
and plentifully supplied with pure and wholesome water for the
gratuitous use of the inhabitants, but not for sale by them. The
council may supply water to public baths or wash-houses, or for trade
or manufacturing purposes. In the case of the former the supply may be
gratuitous. In the latter case it is to be on terms agreed between the
parties. The urban council are required to cause fire-plugs, and all
necessary works, machinery and assistance for securing a supply of
water in case of fire, to be provided and maintained, and for this
purpose they may enter into an agreement with any water company or
person. Provision is made for preventing the pollution of water by gas
refuse and enabling a district council, with the sanction of the
attorney-general, to take any proceedings they may think fit for
preventing the pollution of any stream in their district by sewage.
The district council are also empowered to obtain an order of justices
directing the closing of any well, tank or cistern, public or private,
or any public pump the water from which is likely to be used for
drinking or domestic purposes, or for manufacturing drinks for the use
of man, if such water is found to be so polluted as to be injurious to
health.

Cellar dwellings.

Power is given to prohibit the use as dwellings of any cellars, vaults
or underground rooms built or occupied after 1875, and with regard to
such cellars as were occupied as dwellings before 1875, the continued
occupation of these is also forbidden unless they comply with certain
stringent requirements as to the height of the rooms, height of the
ceilings above the surface of the street, open areas in front,
effectual drainage, sanitary conveniences appurtenant to the cellars,
and the provision