BALCLUTHA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1026, 23 March 1894, Page 5

BALCLUTHA BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the above council was held on Tuesday evening. There were present — -Messrs P. Mason (who occupied the chair in the absence of the mayor), J. TV. Wilson, Sinclair Wright, W. Wilkins, P. Bell, J. Bremner, J. Dunne, G. H. Hutching, and D. T. Fleming. J. S. Algie wrote objecting to the borough council utilising the section next his property as an asphalt yard, stating that it would be the means of depreciating the value of his property as a private building site, — Letter to lie on table till next meeting to" ascertain whether a site near the gravel pit would not be available.

The Balclutha Gas Company wrote stating that the^ would in a few weeks be in a position to supply the town with gas, and expressing their willingness to 'arrange for lighting borough council chamber, library, and street* lamps alongside gas mains. . ~—*

Mr Wilson said he did not think the council should sanction the expense necessary to light the street lamps unless they got some guarantee from the company that the gas would continue for some time, and also as to the expense of fitting up the lamps. The council might fix up the lamps and then find that the gas was no good, or that it might be too expensive. He would strongly oppose anything being done unless a definite offer was obtained from the gas company for the whole thing, so that the council would know exactly what they were doing. As regards the council chambers and library he was in i favour of that being lighted by the gas at the same time price as private individuals were to pay— viz., 12s 6d per 1000. He would move that that be done, and that tenders be called for lighting by kerosene the lamps in east ward (including two on the bridge) and for these on the flat that the Gas Company could not light, and in respect to the latter/ that the Gas Company be asked to make ant offer for supplying a 20 candle-power light/, and for fitting up the connections,, /ffme council did this they would know exactly what they were doing, If they ordered the street lamps to be connected and lit at per 1000 ft, the council would not know what they were doing, and after they had gone to the expense of fitting up the lamps, which would be considerable, they might find that the light was no good or become too expensive., He presumed it would cost 10s a lamp to fit up. He for one would set his face strongly against anything being done unless the council had a definite offer from the Gas Company and knew exactly what was being done, Mr Watt, who was present, said the cost of fitting up the lamps would be about 8s each.

Mr Fleming seconded the motion. Mr Bremner enquired as to whether all the lairips on the bridge could not be lighted by gas.

. Mr Watt replied that the expense of lighting more than the one at this end was too great. He was confident that a good lamp at this end would be as good as the present three kerosene lamps. After some further discussion the part of the motion referring to the lighting of the borough chambers by gas \yas passed, Mr Wilson then moved a separate motion as follows : — " That tenders be called for lighting nor and south wards in two separate tenders — the one for all lamps the Gas Company can light, including one at the end of the bridge, the other for all lamps not lighted by the Gas Company ; the one for gas to include all connections .and to include lighting and extinguishing, said lamps to be lighted with not less, than 20 candle-power for live months ; that east war<J tender include three kerosene lamps on the bridge." In doing so he again expressed himself as strongly of opinion that the council should not sanction the lighting of the street lamps by gas until they had a definite statement from the Gas Company as to the total cost. He was in favour of using the gas if it was a satisfactory Ijght even if it cost a little more than kerosene. If they got a better light they would, of course have to pay more,

Mr Watt said it would not cost any more than kerosene.

Mr Wilson said that in any case they had nothing definite to go upon, and to order the lighting to be done without knowing anything about the cost was a thing to which he would not give his consent in any shape or form. Mr Wright seconded the motion. Mr Dunne thought the fairest plan was for the council to take the gas atid simply pay the same as private individuals were paying. Mr Wilson would set his face against any money being .spent in this direction. The council were dealing with the money of the ratepayers, and should not sanction any expenditure unless they knew exactly what they were doing. They \did not know what like the gas was, and it might . be no good at all.

Mr Dunne said they would have an opportunity of seeing the gas tested before the lamps were lit. Mr Wilson said that in the ease .the council should have something definate to go upon.

Mr Hutchins said it seemed to be reasonable that the council should take the gas at the same price as private individuals, and moved an amendment to that effect. If then they found it did not suit, or cost too much the council had the matter in its own hands, whereas if they entered into a contract their hands would be tied. Besides the council had sanctioned the lighting of the council chamber which was the largest part of the whole thing.

Mr Dunne seconded the motion

Mr Fleming would support the amendment. They had sanctioned the lighting of the council chambers, and the street lamps were a comparatively small matter. Mr Wilkius agreed with Mr "Wilson that the council should have a stated sum from the gas company, and Mr Bell expressed himself to°a similar effect. Mr Wilson said there were five shareholders in the gas company at the council table, and he would loose his motion, but at the same time he was there to protect the interests of the ratepayers, and he felt he would not be doing his duty unless he opposed the ameudment. The council should not go in the dark in tin's matter.

Mr Dunne was astonished to hear' Mr Wilson insinuate that those councillors who were shareholders in the gas company would not do their duty for the sake of a few shares. Mr Bremner asked whether it was legal for shareholders to vote.

Mr Wilson said he understood they could vote legally, but they could not morally do so. The Chairman expressed himself in favour of the amendment, which was then past and carried.

Mr Wilson asked that the voting be taken down, which was done as follows : — For the aniandment ; Messrs Hutchins, Dunne, Mason, Bremner, and Fleming, Against ; Wilson, Wright, Bell, and Wilkins.

Mr Dunne then proposed that the tenders called for lighting the kerosene lamps be dealt with by the lighting committee. — Agreed to.

Mr Wright asked who was responsible for any accidents occuring through the operations of the gas company in the street. The Chairman referred to a case in Dunedin where the contractor was held responsible. Mr Wilson asked who paid the borough engineer, to see that the streets were left in good order by the company. The Chairman said the gas company employed him. The use of the council room was granted to the Literary Society for their annual meeting. The following accounts were passed for payment: — Invercargil Town Council (tar) L 4; J. Eattrny 15s (3d; T. Gawn LI 13s; J. Low L 2 8s 4.1; D. ltedtlie L 8 8s; J. M-Millan LI 7s ; J. Sinclair 15s.