WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1531, 29 August 1912, Page 2

WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

lHy Telei:raDb.~FpeclAl Correspondent.» Wanganui, August 28. The Wanganui corporation gasworks have now reached a stago when, by reason of the rapidly-increasing population, largo extensions will lie ncccs.-ary. ' Such, at any rate, is. the opinion uf the olmirman of the Gas Committee (Coiiucillor Williams), who, in reporting to the Borough Council last evening, stated that tho cost of the works when taken over from the old company ten years ago. was J;IS,3SG. This was covered by a .£30,0110 loan, which also ]irovided the extensions necessary at that time. I'uither extensions since then lwd involved the. borrowing of an additional .£.'17,000, making a total of .CO",000 borrowed, while (lie extension, paid for out of profits, involved another .£10,300, to l>e increased by another .£BSO this year. The total amount handed over out of profits towards the relief of rates was .£15,01)0. Owing lo the demands' upon the output, further extensions liave become necessary, and, to provide for tlieso during the next five years, tliß chairman proposes a further loan of .£30,000. Curiously enough, however, in putting forward (liis proposal, Councillor Williams says that, if a private company owned the works, it would pay for extensions ont of revenue, rather than out of borrowed money, but he personally preferred tho latter. Tho whole question is to be considered at a spccinl meeting of the council next Tuesday.