A GOVERNOR AND HIS GAS BILL.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, 20 April 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

A GOVERNOR AND HIS GAS BILL.

The Melbourne' correspondent of the Otago Daily Times writes: — "A curious story is told here, and as it has got into a country paper, there is no harm in repeating it. Once on a time there was a very powerful governor, for whom was built a magnificent palace. Now this governor,

though genial, was prudent withal. He had an eye to the main chance, and never spent his own money when that of the public would equally serve. Moreover, he was a large consumer of gas, both in his discourses and in his large and numerous rooms. On one day he said to his minister, 'By the way, my dear fellow, there is this account of mine for gas. A good deal of it was used in the public Btate rooms of the house, and as I can't say how much, perhaps you will undertake to settle the account.' To whom the minister replied : ' I shall be most happy, your Excellency, to attend to that. Leave it to me.' His Excellency, speaking 'kinderairUy': ' And, my dear fellow, while we are about it, there is the firewood ; perhaps that could be dealt with the same way.' But the minister was not so guileless as he seemed ; and, after reflecting, ' the old sknnk, he will make me undertake to pay his butcher's and wine bill if I don't stop,' said aloud. 'Your Excellency, I am afraid I don't see any way of charging the public account for your firewood.' To whom the representative of royalty, 'Oh just as you like. I merely mentioned it for the convenience in housekeeping." A month or two afterwards the Minister was looking over some accounts from the palace, when he suddenly exclaimed, with an ejaculation which I omit, "Ninety pounds for a month's gas ! Why, what does it mean ?" For the account set forth that the Governor had, in a month, burned in his palace more than 200,000 cubic feet of gas, for which £90 was charged to the Public Treasury.

The Minister took a hansom, after the manner of officials where cab fare is paid by the public, and drove to the palace. The mystery was soon explained. The Governor had had every stove taken out of every room in his house, and had had gas stoves fitted in their place.