The statue on the left of the picture is part of a fountain erected in 1882 in St Anne Square, Sliema to commemorate the extension of water supply (pumped from public reservoirs) to Sliema. Previous to this Sliema residents had to get their water from wells hewn underground. When the water supply was extended to St Julian’s this fountain was moved to Balluta Square, St. Julian’s were it is till today. Around 3 years ago St Anne Square was given a big facelift and as part of the embellishment a copy of the original fountain was again erected on the same spot as the original one. The copy is shown on the right side of the picture. On my part, I prefer the original statue.
I don't remember the original, but I have seen the more recent and I agree the original is nicer, the recent one somehow looks a bit artificial! Like the history!