THE GAS ENGINEERSHIP.

Evening Star, Issue 5050, 12 May 1879, Page 2

THE GAS ENGINEERSHIP.

TO THE EDITOB.

Sir,—The leader re the re-appointment of the gas engineer would not demand or receive any notice from me were it not that you have mis-stated facts. As to the financial position, you say "The first profit ever shown, according to Mr Fish himself, was for the six months ending September, 1878." Mr Fish never said anything of the kind. If you had attentively read his letter on the subject you would have seen that he showed a profit for the year 1876 of L 2.642 9s 9d. You say further that you doubt the correctness of the credit balance of L 2.439 for the six months endine September, 1878, because you find (and again you quote Mr Fish) that for the ensuing six months, ending March 31, 1879 the profit had sunk to L 298. In order to relieve the editorial mind, let me explain that the profit for this period was so small because the large sum of L 2.315 lis 6d was paid for interest on debentures, L 833 lis 6d of which was applicable to the former six months. This, however, in no wise affects the result of the year's operations. As a matter of fact, the interest paid for the twelve months amounts to L3J97 lis 6d, for'deprecation L 1.327, and for sinking fund about L7OO, so that the despised gasworks and its management has mado a profit for the year of close on L 5,824 lis 6d. V erily, a shocking result. Your remarks as to " cabal organisations," etc., are, as you observe, all "leather and prunella," unworthy of notice and little likoly to impose on thinking or reflective people.—l am, etc., H. S. Fish, Jdn. Dunedin, May 12. [Mr Fi*h characteristically ignores, what is evident in the artie'e he criticises, that we only dealt with his statement regarding gas at present ratea.—Ed. E.S.]