GAS FOR TAHUNA

Nelson Evening Mail, 6 July 1916, Page 6

GAS FOR TAHUNA

COUNTY ENGINEER'S REPORT. PROPOSAL N'OT FAVOURED. The following report on tires proposal by the City Council to extend- the gas was read by Mr G. S. Whiteside, Count y Ehgineer, at to-day's meeting of t-he Wiaimea Countv Council: — "As to the -City •Council's proposal to extend gas mains "to Tabuna, complete plans or the position of pipe line bad not yet been supplied. The concession, if granted, would! rendter the surface of the County road liable to frequent disturbance and damage through house connections and repairs, and repairs to mains by a body that was not responsible for its maintenance. If the gas was of regular standard quality iit would have something to recommend it, but as heretofore supplied, it is frequently of poor illuminating power, and not altogether satisiactory, and householders have sometimes to resort to other means to supplement it. The city authorities made no secret of their intention to (make th<a undertaking a money-making business. Thirteen and' a-half per cent. - profit "was expected. There appeared •nothing to prevent & profit of 40 per cent, or more .being made. The principle was all very well were it applied to cattv consumers solely, as many of them were ratepayers, or in) other words shareholders in the business, who par - , ticipated in the profits as a co-operative ! concern, but a district outside the borough would not so benefit, and the city would make a profit at the expense of the country. It •would also mean competition with the electric lighting extension from- .Stoke, which had not the disadvantages mentioned." Discussion of the report was postponed till a from the City Council, to be) received/ later in ft he davi, had attended. . A deputation- from the City Council', composed! of C-rs. Harrison and Pitt, accompanied; by Air J. G. Littlejohn (City Engineer) and! CVIr A. Neil (Gas Engineer) waited, on the Council. Or. 'Harrison said the deputation had .two matters to bring up—the state of the Hocks Road and a gas service for Tahuna. He suggested, in regard to the road, that tihe two engineers present a joint report. It would take a considerable sum' to put the road in first-class order and make it safe for traffic. . Cr. Pitt said 1 the S>toke Progressive Association had called the City Council s attention to the dangerous state of the Rocks Road. It "had been found that practicably the whole of the silps were on the Countv side of the road. Somtithing should "be done in regard' to sjips. and the two Councils should; act in re■gard to the matter. -Be would dike to see the road widened by carrying out the sea wall, but at "the present time such'a scheme could not be put before, the ratepayers. The two engineers might prepare a more moderate scheme. Cr. Harrison then referred' to the gas service to Tah.ima. The Sxoie Roaa Board had given consent so far as it was concerned to lay pipes, and uhe fcity Council now asked the Countj Council's permission, undertaking, if this was granted, to put the road :n proper order. ' ~ or. .Corder moved that the Council fall an'with the suggestion that the two engineers should confer and prepare a joint report on the Hooks Road. _ In regard to tha gas extension to Tahuna the Chairman saad the Cjitj Council was within its rights W asking to extend) the' service to Tahuna, and it was for the County Council now to say if it wtas prepared to allow the •matins .tii be laid. , , The County Engineer s report on i-he matter was again. read. The Chairman said it appeared to him that if the people T a h^ a '^ prepared to pay the price the <Citv Counted asked for its gas, it was nothing to do with the County Council. He w-oujd thank it a great hardship if a local bod> prevented him enjoying facilities inj regard to the electric light or gas. He moved! that permission to lay mains be granted subject to the City 'Council indemnifying; the County 'Coup'-iL-Cr. Corder seconded the motion, and. said if the Tahuna people wanted t£e eas tihey should have it. so .long as the Countv Council's interests . were safeguarded. He thought the Engineer had Exceeded; his -instructions an the comments he had made. _ The motion was carried.