NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 10 February 1926, Page 11

NELSON NEWS

THE MUNICIPAL GASWORKS

(From Our Own, Correspondent.) NELSON, 9th February.

While discussing matters pertaining to the municipal gasworks at a City Council meeting recently, the Mayor stated that the council was losing lOd on every thousand feet of ga« sold. Some councillors expressed doubts as to the correctness of the statement, contending that if the value of residuals (coke and tar) was taken into account, the gasworks was a paying concern, the price at which gas is sold being 6s 8d per thousand feet. As a result of letters to the Press and some editorials on the subject, the Mayor published statements in support of the view he had expressed. At the lastcouncil meeting it was decided to supply the public with the balance-sheet for.the year ended 31st March, 1025, although it has not yet been audited. The statement, published last Saturday, shows the net profit for the year ended "31st March, 1925, to be £2721 13s 2d. This is derived from the sale of gas and residuals. The price of gas has been 6s 8d per thousand feet for about twelve years, and continued at that figure throughout the war period, notwithstanding the 'increase in wages, price of coal, and other costs. From figures given in the statements during the last four years, the accumulated not profits are from Ist April, 1921, to 31st March, IG2S, £12,362 18s 2d, disposed o£ as follows:—Purchase of more assets, including new plant, new mains, new services, meters, etc, £4503 6s 4d; liabilities liquidated, £2563 13s 2d; sinking fund payments, £715 18s 8d; profits transferred to general account in relief of rates, £4580-*----£12,326 18« 2d. The installation of electric light two years ago has, of course, affected the quantity of gas sold, as shown by the following figures: 1922-23, 34,717,fi00ft; 1923-24, 47,311,----200 ft; and 1925-26 (incomplete), 35,----412,100 ft. From a list of gas prices recently obtained by the Mayor, it appears that of all the municipally owned gasworks, Dunedin at 6s 3d is the only place where gas is sold at less than the Nelson price. At Greymouth 8s 4d and 6r 8d for engines is charged; at Westport 6s Bd. All the gas companies quoted in the.list are selling at a higher price than the Nelson figure. The Nelson City Council has this year spent on new mains, new services, new meters, a weighbridge, and a new showroom coating. £2889, a total of £4873 9a 9d. Although this year's figures are incomplete, there is no reason to believe that the enterprise is not paying. The residents of Wakapuaka, who for some time have been considering installing electric light and power in that locality, decided on Friday evening, afc\ a public meeting, to form a power board. A complete scheme submitted by Mr .Henderson, City Electrical Engineer, by which current is to be supplied from the city power house, was approved. The total cost of. the installation is estimated at £2679 18s 7d. The estimated revenue is 60 light consumers at £6 equals £360, and from motors £10.

A hill-climbing competition in connection with the Nelson Cycle Motor Club was held on the Aniseed Valley Hill on Saturday. There was a good attendance of spectators.

At the Magistrate's, Court on Monday, W. H. May, of Bichmond, sought to have set aside an order served by the Bichmond Borough Council under section 205 of .the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, to trim and lower the hedge on his property at the corner of Oxford street and Gladstone road to within 4ft of the level of the street for a distance of 35ft back from the corner. Mr.- Fell appeared for plaintiff and Mr. Moynak" for the Borough Council. Evidence was given by Dr. S. A.' Gibbs, president of the Automobile Association, who considered the council's request reasonable. .He adi .itted that if a shed was put on the corner of plaintiff's property it would obstruct the view of traffic more than the present hedge did. He explained to the Bench that the. Automobile Association had approached the Bichmond Borough Council on the matter in the first instance, as the corner was considered a dangerous one. A. B. Munty.

: member of the council, in evidence said that the notice served on plaintiff was necessary for -the safety of the public. The quick rate of jpeed at which cars came down the main road would give motorists little chance of avoiding an accident unless the hedge was cut back. The Magistrate (Mr. T. lE* Maunsell, S.M.), said this was a point he ~ was considering. Was it reasonable to throw the burden on' a local resident because some motorists drove at an unreasonable speed? Mr. Fell, for plaintiff, contended that property should not be interfered with because some users of the highway travelled at a speed dangerous to the public. What his client had already done was amply sufficient for safety. The fence was a live one, and sheltered a very nice garden and shrubbery from the prevailing southwest winds. If the order was complied with it would expose his property, and might do serious damage to it. Counsel asked that nothing more of the hedge be cut. W. R. May, plaintiff, said his garden and shrubbery was in front of his house. The hedge protected his garden from the. prevailing south-west winds. He had already cut the hedge along Oxford street to about a distance of 15ft from the corner, and the height was reduced to oft. If he had to comply with the council's order, his property would be detrimentally affected to the extent of £200. H. Coltman, county traffic inspector. said the corner as at present was safe for motorists driving at a 'reasonable pace. The Magistrate said he would visit the locality concerned before giving his decision.

The Hon. J: A. Young, Minister of a alth, will pay his first official visit to Nelson to-morrow-, He will be accorded a civic welcome at the Council Chamber at noon.

A meeting of representatives of sports bodies was held last evening to consider the charge made by the City Council to the Bugby Union for the use of Trafalgar Park of 20 per cent, of the gross gate takings. After considerable discussion it was decided to form a deputation of all present and wait upon the council at its next meeting" with a view to obtaining a revision of the charge. It was further decided to offer the council £75 a year for the use of the park.

The death occurred yesterday, at her residence, of Miss Nina Jones, a wellknown local artist. The late Miss Jones was for some years secretary of the Sutur Art Gallery, and at the timo o£ her death was a member of the Trust Board. About thirty pictures painted by the late Miss Jones formed part of the New Zealand exhibit at Wembley, and are now being displayed at the Dunedin Exhibition- .