CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1943, 28 July 1869, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

The Council met this afternoon. All the councillors were present ; and his Worship the Mayor presided. Mr A. K. Smith was in a 1 tendance.

The reports of committees and correspondence were dealt with ; and a return showing the expenditure during the Prince’s visit read. The gross expenditure was L 707 Gs 7d. The proceeds of the Citizens’ Ball was L 383 10s, and this left a balance of L 326 IGs 7d. As against this, the sum of LIOO had to be received from the Government, THE GAS QUESTION*. Mr I* isn said that if Mr Smith had no objection, and the Council had no objection also, he would ask Mr Smith a few questions. ,(

It was decided on the voices to allow of the questions being put. Mr Fish asked whether Mr Smith, as a member of the City Council of Melbourne, could inform the Council as to the cost per annum of lighting the lamps there ?

Mr Smith said tint in Melbourne there was a very much larger number of lamps than here; and each lamp was lighted for £7 per annum, by the Melbourne Gas Company. The lamps burned ffqpi sunset until sunrise, with the exception of the occasions of the new moon, when they w*ere not lighted for about four and a-half days ; the day proceeding the new* moon, the day after, and two other days. The company lighted and extinguished the lamps, kept them clean, and painted the lamp posts. The company tendered for a lo ig term ; their contract did not expire until 1875 or 1876.

In answer to other questions— Mr Smith said, thvt in Melbourne the ! amount consumed by each lamp f per night j wai 5 cubic feet per hj >ur ; and the illuini- ! nutiug power was equal to 12 or 13 cand es. I They also had the m-ans of de'ennining the quality by phutometrical measurement. The ! Melbourne gas works were not the property ( of the Corporation, but the Corporation has I the right to purchase in 157(5, or 21 years after the date of the Company’s incorporation ; and as a member of the Cor* poration, he could state, that at the I end of that term the Corporation would I most certainly exercise that power. In like | manner the Corporation had power to buy j the water works ; and he believed that it j was probable that the Melbourne Corpora* j tion, in conjunction with suburban munici- ! palities, would do so. As far as the 4 j rations he had made allowed him to state, gas could be made here for 7s per 1000 cubic feet. He would not bind mmself to that sum ; it might be 10 per cent: more, when circumstances which they could not control were taken into account. Iu making that estimate, he had calculated coal as coding 35s per ton. He had it on the very best authority here—from a very large dealer—that coals could be got at a dess price. He was quite satisfied that gas could be produced for 7s. Gas companies were not only manufacturers but carriers, inasmuch as they distribute to tbeir customers the articles they manufacture Taking into consi cratiuu waste, depreciation, ivc., and that it was necessary that some of the profits should he put by as a reserve or depreciation fund, he thought that gas could be supplied to the consumer at 15s per 1000 feet—or, in all probability, at 12* fid. He had no doubt that consequent on the great reduction from 25s to 12s fid, there would be an increased consumption. The street mains would have to be relaid. The supply of gas in the street .lamps was totally inadequate * and he was sorry to say, very little more than half what air add be, was supplied accordto the terms of the lessees contract. With the increased consumption, (lie price could be reduced from 15s to 12s fid ; and as consumption still further increased, the price could be further reduced. He e <ti mated the cost would be los, as delivered at the con* sinners’ burners. He did not hes tate to undertake that he would supply gas into the holders here at 7s per 1000. The last contract with the Melbourne Company was entered into three or four years ago. Previously, the price per lamp was Lll. The Melbourne and Colliugwood Companies tendered; and it was owing to the competition that the price was reduced. In 1854, when th« Melbourne Company’s works were erected, the lighting of the street lamps cost Ll7 10s each ; then coal was L 7 10s per ton : and wages very high, 12s per day of eight hours for laborers, and 20s for mechanics. If the present works were purchased, it would he necessary to relay the mains ; in only portions of the streets there were mains. From the Imperial Hotel to the Octagon, the mains were fiin on the one side and 4in on the other. The consequence was that the sup ly was almost exhausted before it got to the Octagon. In Melbourne there were 1,800 lamps This city was not too well lighted ; there ought to be 300 lamps, and there were now 281 ; and these nut supplied according to contract. He did nut; believe that the lessee did so intentionally—he could not do so ; because to supply them properly was impossible on acc unt of tbe small arterial mains. The Melbourne Gas Company eould afford to light 300 lamps as well as 1800 at L 7. Ihe profits of the Colliugwood Company were at one time 24 per cent., and this made die Melbourne public clamorous for cheap gas. The Melbourne companies were now paving 12 per cent., and extending their mains out of their profits. The companies had expended L 550 000 iu that city. A vote of thanks was awarded to Mr Bmith for his explanations ; and the Council then adjourned