BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, 3 February 1911, Page 6

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meetig of tihe Grey Eor■oujgih Council was held last eveMrg. Present : ,T!he Mayor (Mr A. t,'. Russell), tors Bieme, Sweetman, Shiedy, Shannahan Petrie, and Kerr.

■WALLSEND MINE. The Wallsend League wrote ai't'iy: the (Mayor and Councillors j aUr-nd a public meeting at Wallsertd ;o uige on the opening of the Walhend ra ' c.

Cr Petrie moved and the Major seconded that the Mayor and ■any .councillors who were able • attend the meeting. Car-ried. \

m APPRECIATED OFFICIAL

•Mr Kennedy, gas manager, .vrote asfollows: —

"I beg to inform you :l.at my engagement with the Borough is near its termination. Perhaps a *~w Ternaries on the worlcs m.ay not be out of place. It is pleasing to note that the consumption of gas coiVJr.ut«; •<> increase. The rates for .his year- \ull reach 30 million feet, as agsmst ■--• rti million when the Borough purclisjed the Avorks. lit would take up i«.c much of your time were T to oiunurate all that has been clone ty m e Gas Department, but it may i.c 5- aid that the works have been rebuilt and enlarged so that we cou'.d now produce 50 million feet, per annu n. Large additions have also been made to the distribution plant, thousands of pounds having been spent m nifiir.s, services and meters. A la:.cre by si-

ness is done in the sale of fittings burners, (mantles and stoves. Jt will be readily seen that his large invi^ctse in consumption, the addition in the fitting business, "and the constant attention involved in this and to the inevitable complains, attendant on the 850 meters now in use iSas added largely to my -duties and respo.i.-.ibili-ties. Should it be considered sba.t I have 'successfully carried out ny dv ties I would respectfully ask. for. a renewal of my 'agreement for a similar iterm. Should tihis be granted I have only t© say 'that as in the past and in the future, my best efforts will be directed to making the works' remunerative to tihe Council and to give satisfaction (generally to the consumers. — Your Obedient Servant, Ji" r s Kennedy." •

Cr Kerr stated that the Borough had a most capable and efficient official ,in Mr Kennedy. The gas works was "the only department, that gave satisfaction and showed a (handsome profit. It was well managed and tihe results proved that Mr Kennedy was the right man in itihe right place. It was in the interests of the ratepayers that an extended agreement should ■be given, and he moved that ;tihe Council place on record its appreciation of .Mr Kenendy's 7 services and congratulate him on the success that ihis agreement ibe renewed for .a f""rther five years.

tor. Sweetman seconded and said >Mr Kennedy was an excellent manager. If all the borough Avorks were as well looked after there would V •no cause for wostiry.

'Or Bierne said everyone acknowledged that Mr Kennedy was a good servant, and 'he -would like to see his salary increased by £1 a week. '

■Cr Petrie said he would like the discussion held over until there *vas a full meeting.

Cr Kerr said the borough, /finances would not allow of an in "ease ot salary to Mr Kenendy. He recogj.is. Ed that ihe had practically rebuilt the works and was now supervising £6,---000 additions. When the works were completed it would be. only fair to recompense Mr Kennedy to some extent as he was- saving the boro>'g.h hundreds of pounds.

Cr Sheedy supported -and said it was fortunate for the borough that 'Mr Kennedy- would seek a further agreement. He. was a man that would comimand the best position an the Dominion. Hie, agreed with Cr Kerr that he was entitled .to a .bonus <\\i h °.n 'the works were completed.

Cr Sihanahan said the borough were lucky to have such a capable man as Mr Kennedy, as the works had grown ever since he took charge. Mr Kennedy thought of nothing else : >ut gas and gave all his attention to the borough works. The motion was carried unanimously. RATE COLLECTOR. •Owing to three councillors being absent Cr- Bierne moved that the applications be considered at rtx*. Thursday's meeting. Cr Petrie seconded. Carried.