GAS COMPANIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1045, 7 February 1911, Page 8

GAS COMPANIES.

' AUCKLAND. (Br Tolecraph -Pres* Association.!

Auckland, February 6. Tho forty-ninth annual meeting of tho Auckland Gas Company, Ltd., was held to-day, a good attendance of shareholders being presided over by tho chairman of directors (Mr. T. Peacock). Mr. Peacock, m moving tho adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, remarked that the reduction in tho prico of gas indicated at tho Inst annual meeting had been given effect to since March last. It was gratifying to note that, notwithstanding tho reduction in price, tho receipts from tho sale of gas amounted to .£113,330, being an increase of 10213. The number of consumers had increased by 1712, making a total of 19,878. Tho profits for the year, after deducting working exnonses, cost of repairs and renewals, management expenses, interest on borrowed money, bad debts, and other charges, amounted to T' lp directors recommended a dividend for.tlio past half-vear of Is. lOd. per sharo on the .CI fully-naid shares, and a proportionate dividend on tho 10s. paid-up contributing shares, absorbing .£19.485 15s. 4d„ which sum, added to the dividend paid in' July last, viz., J!18,253 Is. 4il„ amounts to .£37,768 ICs. Sd., leaving a surplus on tho business of tho company for tho year 1910 amounting to XG233 Is. 9d. Tho report, was adopted.

: NAPIER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Napier, February G. Tho annual report of tho Gas Company discloses ' a very profitable year. After payment of an interim dividend in June, a profit of <£7355 remained, and tho directors recommended that a further ,£5533 bo allocated, leaving a balance of ,£lß2l to bo carried forward.