water-rate

Most of the houses in the quiet, respectable sort of streets average about twenty to twenty-five dollars per month, including everything but water-rate, which is three dollars per month.

Canada for Gentlemen James Seaton Cockburn

-- An Anti-Ritualistic old Lady objected to paying her water-rate, when she was informed that she would be patronising "a High Service."

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, November 21, 1891 Various

Mr.. Kenwigs too, was quite a lady in her manners, and of a very genteel family, having an uncle, Mr. Lillyvick, who collected a water-rate, and who she fondly hoped, would make her children his heirs.

Ten Girls from Dickens Kate Dickinson Sweetser

We hear, however, that he intends to have another try when the water-rate is not quite so high.

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, November 24, 1920 Various 1898

Duckby's satirical story of a tame otter that had a tank in the garden to swim in, and whined restlessly whenever the water-rate was overdue, was scarcely an unfair parody of some of Blenkinthrope's wilder efforts.

Beasts and Super-Beasts 1870-1916 Saki 1893

Here the sleek capitalist and there the sinewy laborer; here the man of science and here the shoe-back; here the poet and here the water-rate collector; here the cabinet minister and there the ballet-dancer.

Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow 1893

I have already stated that municipal government is unknown; consequently there are no municipal rates to be paid, no water-rate, no poor-rate, and not a cent for either sanitation or education.

China and the Chinese Herbert Allen Giles 1890

There is not one of the circumstances of this capture of streams -- the company, the water-rate, and the rest -- that is not a sign of the ill-luck of modern devices in regard to style.

The Spirit of Place and Other Essays Alice Christiana Thompson Meynell 1884

There is not one of the circumstances of this capture of streams -- the company, the water-rate, and the rest -- that is not a sign of the ill-luck of modern devices in regard to style.

Essays Alice Christiana Thompson Meynell 1884

The fact is, sir, if you felt disposed to do that at your own expense, and -- and to have the room cleaned, and -- and, let us say, to bear half the water-rate whilst you are here, why, really, I hardly feel justified in asking anything more. '

The House of Cobwebs and Other Stories George Gissing 1880