THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8967, 18 April 1890, Page 5

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

The Electric Lighting Committee recommended at the meeting of the City Council last night that as the contract will probably come to hand next month the accounts for February and March be paid, and also the account for April, when presented; but that no farther accounts be paid, until the contract has been received. The Committee further recommended that an attached ao v count (£2B I7a 6d) for altering position of lamps and for erecting two additional cues, be passed for payment. Councillor Brandon moved tbe adoption of tbe report. In doing so he referred to a paragraph which appeared in yesterday’s N ew Zealand Times, in which he said the writer made charges of dishonesty against some persons unknown. The writer of that paragraph bad evidently written in ignorance, and his statement was entirely unwarranted. In his opinion it was to be regretted that the details of the Corporation work were commented upon by the newspapers, the writers evidently having no knowledge of the subject about which they were writing, and they never took any trouble whatever to ascertain the true state of the case. He thought the writer should have been more precise in his charges. So far as he could gather there was no ground whatever for imputing charges of dishonesty to anyone. Councillor Brandon here quoted from the paragraph as follows : —“ It strikes ns, after making inquiries, that there is more bungling going on than there is any need lor, and that the ratepayers are being dishonestly dealt with by those who have, the control of the city light?.” This, he considered, was a very grave charge to make, and there was no ground for it. He moved the adoption of tbe report. Councillor Fraser seconded this. Councillor Worth opposed the adoption of tbe report, apd be moved as an amendment that consideration of the report should be held over until next meeting. He considered that the public had a perfect tight to speak in strong terms considering the blunders that bad been made in connection with the electric lighting. They were not getting full value for their mouey, and they would be committing a great error if they paid the money. Let them wait nntil they got the contract. In tbe opinion of a great number of people the Gillcher Company were not giving the Council what they had pledged to do; and in the eatimatiou of some people the light did not come up to gas. He thought they should wait until they got the contract before they pledged themselves to anything. Councillor Moeller seconded the amend, ment, and did not think that they should pay the money until they saw what was in the contract. After further discussion, the motion was put and carried by 8 to 4. Councillor Harris moved, as a further ’ amendment, that after April no further money be paid to the Company until the question of the excess of water has been settled. This amendment, however, lapsed for want of a seconder, his Worship ruling that according to the standing orders Councillor Worth could not second this amendment.