Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 925, 21 August 1869, Page 4

THE GAS QUESTION

Inresponse td an adyertiaement, signed' by Mr Councillor J. Simi>son»,*otowded-naeet-' ing of the ratepayers asßembledat the, £oly- ( (technio Hall, on Monday afternoon, towneider, i amongst other things; the proposition of the City Council to employ Mr A. K. Smith to prepare plans and specifications for & Corporation Gas Worts. Fully a, quarter, ot an hoar elapsed before the meeting succeeded . in obtaining a chairman. < A number of gentlemen were loudly called upon ito .occupy that position, but none of them appeared willing to ao ao. Amongst those mentioned were Messrs Sydney James, Reeves, Moss* Mills, Jago, Mr Councillor . Walter, and Mr .0. Moore. Ultimately the latter.gentleman, notwithstanding the opposition which he manifested, was lifted on to the platform by .several of his acquaintances, amidst the* oheera and to the i tt *o» cc amusement of all present. After he had exchanged a few words with Mr Simpson, , he briefly intimated thatthat gentleman was , prepared to -address the .meeting regarding the objeot of the gathering. > Mr Simpson then said that he had taken the opportunity of calling his fellow-citizens together for' the purpose of enabling them to eive expression to their opinions in reference to the conduct of the City Counoil at their last meeting regarding the proposition above referred to.— (Applause.) Afcer some delay iv the proceedings, a copy of that day's Daily Times was pvo ; oared, and The Chairman read the advertisement oonvening the meeting under some difficulty, lie being frequently interrupted by interjeo- , tions, which he, as well as a majority of the audience, were unable < to .receive without considerable laughter. After several attempts mads by Mr John Hay to obtain a hearing, he asked Mr Simpson a question as to the framing and signing of the advertisement just read. 'Soino questions were put by different persons, the Chairman made several vigorous efforts to restore order; and being unable to do so to hia own satisfaction, he suddenly rushed off the stage, and simultaneously one of the scenes descended, thus leaving Mr Simpson and Mr John Hay the only oocupantsofthe static who were visible to the audience. After considerable confusion and much laughter, the scene was raised. Mr John Graham appealed somewhat pathetically to the meeting, assuring them that if they did not give every gentleman a fair hearing they would be jeopardising; their own interests. Another pause, and after he had been several times called upon, Mr J. W. Jago ascended the platform to take the chair. He explained that he had no objection to occupy the position of Chairman, provided the meeting would assist him in his attempts to conduct the proceedings in a proper manner. If, however, the meetinj? did not support him. he should certainly do as his predecessor had done, speedily vacate the chair. Mr Hay again asked Mr Simpson * question in regard to the advertisement convening the meeting, and Mr Simpson was understood to aay t&at his signature was appended to the advertise ment by his authority. Ho admitted, however, taut he invariably signed his name "John Simpson." He further explained that immediately after the meeting of the City Council on Wednesday last, he was asked by several gentlemen why the Council had boon so precipitate in regard to the proposal to empl >y Mr A. K. Smith, &c, and naming aa the maximum amount of remuneration, L'2oo. He then stated that he did everything in his power to prevent the Counoil acting hastily, but that his efforts were of no avail. He was next asked why he did not call a meeting, and ho replied that he was not in ft positiou to pay the expenses, but that he was prepared at any meeting called to express his opinione on the gas question. He also ultimately woented the responsibility of signing the advertisement. He moved the following resolntion:—"That in the opinion of tlua meeting, it is inexpedient to incur any outlay of the oitiztW money in securing the further services of Mr A. K. Smith, until faoihti* « have been given to any other professional gentleman who may bo prepared to analyse Mr Smith's report, or to tumwh information bowing upon, the question of a supply oi good and oheap gas for tho city. ' Ho re nWkod that smce he had r«presented the ratepayers, ho had endeavoured to do hi» duty, dealing with all matters in a strioriy couaoiontious maunor, in furtherance of tho interests of those whom he represented, and the oitizeM at large. He had stood alone iv tho Council on two or three r*ther important matters, and, in oon«eqnonco, he had been twitted as to tho isolated position which ho occupied. But if ho, from tho foot of beinjt in that position, wore to be stigmatised, thon ho wa» unfit to occupy a scat at tho Council tablo. He then explained the action of the Connoil on the gns question, from ita mtro duction to that body down to the pro•*nt time, making particular reference to a committno mwtiujj whioh toted only a fow minutes, and whioh, from tlio prooipitnte mannor in whi*h it was conducted, ho to not abl« to attend in time. Ho *l«o rovortod to tho faot of the Council h»vmg voted Ll2O to Mr A. K. Smith (or his •orvicos. and to that Hum having »wolled to Ll5O, or at any rate, Ll4O odd. Ho next ext>Mn«d th« po*i-, tion ho took when Vtr Smith's roi»ort wm brought beforo the Council, whtn he urged taut ho (Mr Smith) should bo dflUuwl ft

\ttwllonOTif,ginnghiß^«p<c>n« *t the; time. HM then deferred to the second paragraph' of page 15 oi Mr'BhHth>repors, aa' pubfißhei in 1 book forai^ whioh was', as, follow^,;— , "Again, if works 'dost L35.000J instead of LI 8,000, toßupply 12 millions tier a&mim, it would require 2s lOd per 1000>et additional to be charged upon each 1000 fe"et of gas to pay a dividend of 10 per cents npen 1 the difference of capital invested/ and aaid in reference thereto, that he left it to the Mr Smith had not conveyed the idea that there was a probability of the contemplated works costing L 35 ,000, instead of LIS.PQO, —, (No, no : yes, yea.) , He then adverted, to the fact of a letter having been presented to the City Council at its' last meeting from Mr S. Hutchison, on the gas question^ in which that gentleman expressed his intention of i urnißhing a gratuitous report ; and to the manner in which that letter was dealt with by the Council. He considered that, looking to the interests of the citizens, it was the duty of the Council to take evidence on Buch an important matter, even from those ■whom they might consider their enemies. Referring to the laßt Mnnioipal election, he aaid that Mr Fish had Btated that the principle of the Corporation becoming the proprietora of a gas works had been affirmed. He, however, held, that the Council elected were committed, to this extent, that if after evidence having been taken it were found that gaa could be supplied t-etter and cheaper by having a Corporation Gas Works, then a gas worka should be established, That, he maintained, wasthe queation involved. Now, he contended that they had only received evidence on one side j other evidence had been proffered and refused. That waa not what he considered the proper representation of the intereßta of the citizenß. He admitted that for a Corporation to become the proprietorß of a gaa works, was a good principie—(Mr J. Hay : Hear)— but he aaid and thought, that although it might be right and just for them to do certain things, it might not alwaya be expedient; and he asked the meeting whether it were expedient for the city to go in for the expenditure of L 35.000, whilst their streets were in their present deplorable and impassable state, and in the absence of permanent and efficient sewerage worke. It was almost like a proposition to compel a man to wear broad cloth when he was really unable to afford moleskin.— ( Applause. ) Was it fair to make auy man p y for luxuries before be could obtain the common neoesaaries of life ? When either individuals, corporations, or communities lived beyond their meanß, bankruptcy waa the inevitable result. He wanted to mention one other matter. It might be unpopular, but he hoped the citizens would, if it affected their interests, give a fair hearing to even an unpopular man, who might have an unpopular subject to deal with. He sirap'y wished to state that a large amount of money had been invested in the city, and aa a matter of eoonomy, and keeping in view the interests of the oitizens, it w«b advisable that they should consider whether the article in queation, Gaa, could not be uupplied on satisfactory terms with the existing apparatus. — (Cheers and counter cheers.) He had called thorn together to discuss the gas question, not beoause he was individualy interested, but because the interests of the oitizens were at stake, and might be jeopardised. He would not himsolf expend J,loo of his own money unless he saw that it were to be invested ia reproductive worke. and as ho would act for himself so he wished to act for the oitizens He had been told that he had been influenood by selfish motives, but those who were acquainted with him. knew that auoh was not the case. He had been told by three men that ho had received money from Mr S. Hutohieoa for the purpose of advocating bia cause. — (Crie* of Namo, name.) No ; it waa a delicate subjeot, and be wonld prefer not to name> He understood that there was m follow Councillor of hia who held .similar opinions to hi« in reference to the gas question ; tut that gentleman asserted that he could not stand ridicule.— (Crioa of Name, oh, oh, oonfusion and laughter.) He considered that the man who wa« not prepared to stand boldly forward in defence of bis oven viewf, and those of the poraons ha represented, w«s unworthy to be a representative.—(Applause.) With those remarks, h« would content himself by moving the resolution. Mr John* Graham teoondod th« motion. The Chairman asked whether any gentlem«n wishod (o move an amendment.

Mr Cr Fwu Intimated that be desired to do ao. Ho then asconded the platform, amidst choors and tokons of disapprobation. Silence having boon restored, he remarked that when he entered tho room he had no intention of making a spoeoh j thorefore he was not preparod to do so. He limply desired to rofer to some remark* made by Mr Simpson. Hfl g«»vo Mr Simpson oredit for honesty of purpose, so far as hie conduct at tho City Ci>unoU tv»le in connoclion with this matter was concerned ; but it struok htm at soinowhat singular that the advertise, mont convening the meeting should have been written and signed by Mr Hutchison, and not by Mr Simpson. — (Laugher, and Oh. on.) Ho moved, as an amendment, "That this mooting endorse tho action whioh the City Council h.u taken in order to supply tho city witb gas."— (Applause and disapprobfttiou.) He thnn, like Mr Simpson, referred to th« action Ukvsa by tho Corporation in connection, with the uu quwtion, At tho rooontjßMclinß hold in ttw Post Office Ball, Mr A.W-mith •h«wod his wiUinguos* to answor any quo* tious thftt the cltitoos might do«ir« to pat to him ooaoMUd with bis wporl } in f Mb, h«

gut!tnelidn?tm ifafy^to'rtppißi&very muok like* lamb/ and entirely failed; to refute any ita^e^ent^pr'arguinent which.Mr Smitli had * put forward. 5 Ultimately the Council proceeded" tooatfyWtthft principle affirmed of having a Corporation Gas Works j m& as the propriety of employing Mr A. IS.. Smith to, 0 prepare plans,' &»., nad reen questioned, he wished to make >» few remarks on „that point. . Supposing .that the "Council .called for .competitive .plans, &C 'as " suggested, he would like i •to know who was to judge as to their suitability, 'it-would require a skilled man to —(Mr, Hutchison' here appeared on the stage, : and took' a seat amidst great cheering.), They would have required to obtain the servwes of a skilled person to decide the poiot, and consequently the Council would have had to employ another professional engineer; and pay an additional bonus ; and ac the Council felt confidence in Mr Smith, the coune adopted waa regarded aa being the best course they could, under the cirouinstances, puraue : and he would also ask whether they could not place more reliance in the report of Mr Smith than in any report that Mr Hutchison might frame.— (No and yes.) Well, he contended that Mr Hutchison was interested in burking the question.—(Applause, and loud cries of disapprobation.) He oertainly thought that any report on the <?»• question which eman° ated from Mr Hutchison, must be received with a certain amount ofsuspioion.— (No and yes. ) It was said that regard ought to have been paid to vested interests. He ooncurred in that expression of opinion, and if the rights of the citizens had been respeoted by the gentleman most interested, he would have replied that b.e, in return, under such circumstances as the present, would be entitled to their B?mpalhy.-(Cries of ''The Pilot ") He was oommgto that matter. Ithad \ been industriously ciroulnted that he obtained possession of a oopy of the Newcastle Pilot, said to contain a report unfavourable to Mr A. K. Smith, in an improper manner. He, however, would relate the circumstances under which he became possessed of that paper. Last Wednesday afternoon, after he left a meeting of the City Council, he found the paper lying on his shop counter, and it was addressed to himself. On making enquiries he ascertained that it had been left about half »n hour previously. Subsequently a great commotion was created about tbe paper, and upon telling Mr White, who was in the employ of the Dunedin Gas Company, that gentloraan intimated that L 2 would be given for it. He replied that he did not want his money, and that he did not intend to sell the paper. Ultimately, he (Mr Pish) waited upon the Editor of the Timea, explained how he had become possessed of the paper, and tbe Editor then stated that he himsolf sent him the paper.— ( Applause, and cries of Oh.) He wonld now conclude by moving the motion he had already read.— (Applause.) Mr B. Isaac seconded.

Mr Cr Dods, in supporting tho amendment, remarked that he was aa anxious as any gentleman possibly could be. that the gas question should be fully and fairly disoussed; but before they proceeded further he desired to refer to a miß-statement made by Mr Simpson. With regard to the second paragraph in page 15 of Mr Smith's report, Mr Smith simply meant that if the present gas workß cost L 35.000 and his new works only LIB.OOO, they would bo able to sell gas at 23 lOd per 1000 feat less than the present company. He also denied that the Council bad refused to receive Mr Hutchison's report. They deoided to receive and read Mr Hutohison's report, and it was also deoided the Town Clerk should communicato with Mr Hutchison, and explain that the Gas Committee, or a committee appointed, would be glad to confer with him respecting it Mr Simpson : But that would take plaoe after the instructions alluded to had l>e«n transmitted to Mr A. K. Smith,

Mr Dodb aasured the meeting that the Council had not been precipitate in th» matter. The letter to Mr Smith, requesting him to draw up plans and specifications, could bo delayed, but the Council could h*rd!y bo expected to act upon reaolu. tions paused a*, a meeting whew both sides of the question were not heard. — (Applause and disapprobation ) Mr Murray suggested the advisability of tho Counoil delaying the posting of the letter until further professional advloe and awtiUnoe had been obtained.— (AppUuM.)

Mr 0. 8. Rkkvbs moved "That in ihe opinion of this meeting Mr Simpson would oonfer a favour upon, and consult the interest* of, the ratepayers, if he w«r«to re. sion hU seat in the City Council and appeal to the ratepayers for r«.o!eoti(>n."--( Applause and dis»pprobation.) He proposed the motion out of no dUrowect to Mr Bimpapn. He bolievdd that in what ho had dono h« had been aotuatod by the purwt motitet, but if tho oourso proposod by the resolution were adopted, it would have tho effect of eliciting a decided expression of opinion from the ratepayers, as regarded tho ooudaot of Mr Sidm». ««>a und tho other memlww of tho City Council, Mr Isaac seconded the motion, and addressed tta mooting from » similar pom* ol view, amidst great oonfoslon. The CnAiRMAH intiraati»d that bo submit th© motion and amendments for the approval or disapproval of the meeting, addtig that he intended to adopt thH oo«we, vii!.. if th«r» w«ro a majority of Rfurm«tiT» vot*« for «ithw of the amendments or for tho motion, h» thould dwlw* the motion or am«ndm«nt oarritd, *• tho otso might U. Th» «bow of haadj «M m follows j—

majontyvotinia]gairafcit. I."'1 '."' ; ... j For Mr IWs ameadmenlv 80 ; Against whicha large majority alip voted. . Against Mr Simpson's motion only about a dozen hand* were Held up, it wasthere. fore' 'declared to be carried almost unammMr B. Hutchison, who -was received with great cheering and some flight disapprobalion, stated that he desired to move a resolution which, in Mb opinion,^ contained two element!, common sense and justice. It wan as follows :—*' That the proper business course for the Couuoil to pursue with reference to the future public lighting of the city, is to advertise for tenders for lighting during a nu-mber of years, and that in the event of suoh tenders being at all approximate to what is paid in other New Zealand or Australian cities where surrounding circumstances are parallel ; or should such tenders approach the estimate of cost contained in Mr A. K. Smith's report to the Council; that in either case no portion of the city funds, so much needed for neoeaaary publio works, be expended on a second Gas Works "—(Applause.) He assured the met ting that he Bhould take it very much to heart il he really thought that he was unpopular, became there was nothing which he so much coveted as the good opinion of his fellow-citizens. There wera gentlemen in the Council whom he had held in high esteem, but who, he regretted to say, had not extended to him that impartiality and consideration which the importance of the interests at stake demanded. He certainly did think that it was the duty of tha Council to have consulted the proprietors of the present gas works, as to what steps they were prepared to take in connection with the future lightiog of the lamps. Mr Fish had told them that Mr Smith, at a recent meeting, actually bearded the lion in his den. Until then he was not aware that he (Mr Hutchison) was entitled to so proud a distinction. The principal object he (Mr Hutchison) had in view in attending that meeting, was to prev«nt Mr Smith sAyiog when he reached Melbourne that be (Mr Hutobiaon) was not prepared to Bay in his presence what he would say behind his back. It had also been stated that he failed, on that occasion, to refute the statements contained in Mr Smith's report. He would ask whether it [ were not impossible for any man, however Bkilful he might be, to reply in so short a period of time to deal with suon a dooument. He would, however, in the course of ajfew days, to prepared to show the ratepayers what his professional capabilities were. He did not hesitate to say that he should never expect to be well thought of again if, in the analysing of Mr Smith's report, he did not prove it to be one of the greatetit pieces of professional charlatanism that ever disgraced a man. fte (Mr Hutchison) was unanimously elected out of 10b professional candidates by the City of Melbourne Gas and Coke Company to repair the monstrous errors which the gentleman alluded to had ooromitted. Ho (Mr Hutchison) built the new gas works there at a cost of L150,0u0 or L 160.000, and he retired from that service with the very highest testimony which could bo accorded to any gentleman. —(Applause. ) He was proud of being a citizen of Dunedin, although somewhat disgusted with the manner in which he had been treated in some quarters ; good sense, however, would no doubt ultimately prevail where passionate partizanship had held place. It would be unwise to invest L 60.000 to procure that which an outlay of L 30,000 was supplying. Regarding Mr A. K. Smith, what ho ought to have done was this : He ought to have-(& Voick: "Somebody said that you were a barber." Mr Hutchison—"No, I am not a barber j if I had b«en, probably I should have out your throat. )-- (Lauqhter.) Mr Hutchison continued : What Mr Smith ought to have done.- (£ Voiok : "Stopped at home."— Laughter.) Well what a miui should do when ho undertook a soientiflo ta»k was this.— Ho should first make an assertion Next, ho ahould adduoe some instances to prove that his statements were correct, and give hi B data and bring t to b«ar, in order to confirm bis cat*. In his report he would show that Mr Smith had not Sonethat. He now begged to thank the meeting for the hearing they had given him. and wi«hed to state that he was preparing a report on the Gm Question which ho intended to aubmit to the City Council. He intended to go to the Ci»r Council Chamber on Wednesday next, and send in a respectful note to the Council that he was prepared to read the report. If, however, the Council refused to accord to him the same faimeas »a bad been extended to otbew, he should put tho report in his pookot and get it published m some other way.— ( Applanse ) Mr Mukiuy seconded tbo motion. Throe cheors were here proposed and given for Mr Simpion. . . The resolution was then put and earned, only one hand being held up against it. £ John Hvoiw* M?.C moved the following resolution :~"That the thank, of the ratepayer* of this City are due to Mr Councillor Simpson, to the action taken by him in soliciting the opinion of the dttfens, on a threatened «»>eadituw of the ratwi in an injudicious and ha«ty mannar, as also for the oonaisteot and buuncst lik« oouwe he has advocated in order to obtain for the City a aupwly of olwap Gas, 11 Mr Machin seconded the motion,lwbioa was carried unanimously. Mr SmrsoH returned thanks for the oornplimont paid him. A vote of th»nks to the Chairman, on the motion of Mr Hutchison, oonoiudod the pro* caodWs,