Shanghai, 12th January, 1893.
Srm,—In reply to your letter No. 93/11 of the lith instant. covering copy of a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Council, by ite Health Officer relating to "the Milky appearance of the water taken direct from the Company's taps," of which you ask an explanation, we beg to inform you t-e appearance referred to is caused by the presence of ver Tinute. particles of Bice, which although removable by an ordinary domestic filter, cannot be entirely so by methods of filtration adopted by Waterworks Companies. The unusually © milky appearance" prevalent for a short time lately, our Engineer in Chief attributes to a slightly increased rate of filtration consequent upon the closing "f two of the filter necessitated by a serious Teak in one of the pure water culverts; it was moreover probably increased by the fuct that the mains were at the same time being subjected to a periodical testing and flushing during which the closing of sundry valves would reverse the ordinary flow of the water and consequently disturb any deposits of mica that might have accumulated in the mains, The repairs at the Company's works being now complete and the mains thoroughly flushed, we do not anticipate any recurrence of the "Milky appearance" to which you have drawn our attention.
We are, Dear Sir, Your obedient servants, Dayspate, Riscer & Ca.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.