ONSLOW BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1070, 8 March 1911, Page 9

ONSLOW BOROUGH COUNCIL.

LIGHTING SCHEME.

GAS PROPOSALS ACCEPTED,

A special general meeting of the Onslov Borough Council was held last night in connection with the proposal to introduce gas into the borough. The result ot the comicillors' deliberations is that the Gas Company's proposals have now been accepted. Tlie meeting had been called to deal with the following notice ot motion, moved by Councillor Stafford and seconded by Councillor Ferguson: That in. addition to the conditions contained iu the motion dealing with the Gas Company's proposals, moved by Councillor Plimmer and seco.idcd by Councillor Bo.wdcn at tho'meeting of the council on February 23, the following conditions be agreed to by the council: (1) After the first eleven years of the 21 years' term (o lie given . to the Gas Company have expired tho Boroufjh Council is not to require the Gas Company to -erect any. public lights unless it agrees to take such further, lights .(meaning the lights erected after the eleventh year) for a further term of 10 years'from tho date of tho erection of any such further light or lights; (2) the 21 years' term to be given to the Gas Company ■to commence at a date G months from the date of the execution of the contract between the .Council and the Company. ■.'• - At the outset Councillor Plimmer objected to the special ipeeting as being out of order as the requisition for the meeting did not contain live signatures when first handed to the Town Clerk. The Deputy-Mayor, however, pointed out that this was not necessary, and ruled that the meeting was iu order. Councillor StafFord, in moving the motion, remarked that, as the matter hail now been . thoroughly ventilated, ■ 4 here was no necessity to say much. He want-e-1 to say, however, ■ that they were not advocates for the Gas Company or opponents of the Electric Light Company, but they were advocates of the introduction of gas into the borough. In . reference to the convass of ratepayers, that had been proposed, he did not think that the council had a right to expend tlio money that would be required to carrv it out.

Councillor Ferguson spoke briefly ' in support of the motion. ■

Councillor Kiernan'favoured the introductiou of gas into the , borough as a progressive move. It would be a great convenience to the residents of Ngaio and Khftiulallah. lie had no doubt that, if the matter weroleft in the hands of the ladies, it would be. carried at once. It did not follow that the introduction of gas would affect electric light seriously, as the latter might still bo preferred for lighting purposes. Councillors Plimmer and. Bowden both protested against the gas scheme receiving more favourable consideration than tho electric light scheme. As far as cooking went, Councillor Bowden stated that ho had authentic figures to show that electricity was just as cheap as gas. Ho thought that tho Electric Light Company had been treated very shabbily by the council. In the past the company had taken the lights over the hills . wherever they were asked, and in places where tho Gas Company would not go for twenty .years. Ho could not sea the object of giving the Gas Company the right to light 30 lights, or the right to a 21 years' tenure if they could refuse to lay maths to the satisfaction of the ratepayers., Tho council was going to allow the Gas Company to go through the streets free of • Cost, and, in fact, the company would have a hold on the borough instead cf the torough having a hold on tho company.

On tho motion being put, it was carried on Upcasting vote of the Deputy-Mayor. The votim; was as follows:—For: Councillois Stafford, Ferguson, Bannister, and' Kiernan. Against: Councillors Plimmer, Bowden, Aplin, and Darvall. It was" then moved by Councillor Bowden that, in order to safeguard the interests of ratepayers who have had ths electric light installed, the council enter into negotiations with the City Council to mako tho. best arrangements possible for a continuance of tho light at the expiration of the term of the present contract. After the matter had been discussed, it was decided that Messrs. Eowden, Plimmer, Darvall, and tho Mayor be appointed a committee to report on tho question.