| Date: Sun 07-Aug-1994 Paper Page: 35A Publication: Sunday Sun by Warren Alleyne IN 1989, a Press item informed us that Three Houses Spring in St. Philip was "being utilised as a means of irrigation by farmers in the surrounding areas". The value of this stream to local agriculture has long been recognised. A statute enacted as early as 1713 to regulate its use stipulated that: "The adjacent inhabitants, though whose lands the said rivulet runneth, may make dams and detain the water to their own use. "Provided such dams do not dry the rivers below them; but a stream shall always be kept running down to Brown's pond; which is to be kept full by the surveyors of the parish for the public use; if the proprietor doth not debar any person from watering his stock thereat." The law further decreed that no person was to make a dam or keep any branch of the said river in his land longer than 48 hours at a time, but should then destroy the dam to enable the person next below him to enjoy the same advantage for the same limited time. Interestingly, this statute concerning Three Houses Spring became perpetual. Only as recently as 1971 was it finally omitted from our laws, on the grounds that it was only of limited application. |