LOWER HUTT GAS. LIVELY CAMPAIGN PROMISED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1908, Page 8

LOWER HUTT GAS. LIVELY CAMPAIGN PROMISED.

Much opposition to the Lower Hutt Borough Council's proposal to set up a gasworks in the district has been recorded ,but the Mayor (Mr. Peteridn). hopes still to convince the hostile critics that they are wrong and that the council is right. A circular signed by Mr. Peterkin and the chairman of the Gas Committee has been issued, setting orth reasons why the burgesses should support the project. Objection is taken to the issuing of such, a manifesto on the eve of 'polling day/ and it is contended that it is an unfair attempt to influence the ratepayers. • Captain "M* Donald, criticising tho publication, submits that the statements are misleading. The circular states that thn cost of supplying gas to the burgcrrcs, when purchased "at 4s 3d per thousand wholesale, from Petone. is 6s 7id, which means 2s 4£d £oi' distribution. If theLower Hutt produced its own r?-s, it would still be compelled to pay" these costs ; yet if the gas was manufactured by the borough, the circular contends, the cost would be 4s 6£d, including manufacture. Thus, on the circular's own showing, there would be only 2s 2d to meet cost of manufacture, which, it is contended, would be palpably absurd. The Mayor of Petone, bpeaking in reference to to-morrow's poll, stated today that his council would stand by the terms set forth in Iris council's letter of 20th August, 1908, w hich runs as follows :— " In reference to this council's letter of the 18th inst., offering a supply of gas to your borough at 4s 3d per thonsand cubic feet for the first tbreev years, and 4s per 1000 cubic feet for the last four years of a seven years' period of supply, I may add that my council is agreeable to your council ' having onethird of the. output of coke at 18s per ton, and the same proportion df tar at 3^d per gallon, provided the aforesaid j coke and tar is taken away weekly from the Petone Gasworks." i

The Dunedin City Solicitors have been authorised by the Finance Committee to proceed with a test case to recover rates charged on buildings occupied by the Railway Department's tenants between Kensington and Cayersham Tunnel, telegraphs our Dunedin correspondent. It was anticipated that supplies and prices of oversea fruit would have increased and diminished respectively by the present time, but these anticipation^ have not been realised, and in con&e-' quence- there are but few fruit hawkerc> applying for stands. The monthly issue of licenses was made, by the City Council to-day, but there were only four applicants. They had their pick of the places, and the remainder of the stands are now held by City Inspector Doyle in readiness for the earliest eligible applicants. The Wellington Orchestral Society, which made its first appearance with such success at Mark Hambourg's final cpneert, wilL give its first concert on Thursday, 12th November, in the Town Hall. At 2 o'clock to-morrow Messrs. W. H. Morrah and Co will sell by public auction in their rooms, Willis-street, household furniture, tho contents of an eight-roomed house ; also harness and linoleums. Details are advertised in this issue. The General Assembly Library/ rocess privileges commenced to-day. ',