Correspondence. THE PROPOSED GAS PURCHASE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 1895, 26 November 1877, Page 3

Correspondence. THE PROPOSED GAS PURCHASE.

TO THE BDITOE OP THE TIMABTT HERALD. Sib, — The burgesses of Timaru aro requosted by his Worship the Mayor to attend a meeting this evening to consider the advisability of borrowing money to bring the water from the Pareora^nto the town, and to purchase the Gas Company's works. No one questions the desirability of procuring a copious and constant supply of water, and very little grumbling will be made about our water-rates, even though they equal m amount the other rates wte have to pay j but, on the other matter, nearly every person that I have spoken to seems heartily opposed to the scheme. The action of the Council, it Blrikea me, has been a little premature m this affair. They should have ascertained whether the Gas Company would soil or not, and what the price of their property would be. As they have not done bo, and as there is no preliminary agreement drawn up to bo submitted to the ratepayers this evening, what, is to prevent that body, nearly all the members of which are large shareholders m the Q-bb Compay, from giving an enormous price for their works should it be decided to allow the purchase ? I phall probably be severely censured for even hinting that the Council could do such a questionable piece of work. But lot their own deeds testify againßt them. What Councillor has not gone m for getting streets and footpaths formed all about his properties, and gas-lamps placed near or m front of the entrance to his residence ? Can't we recollect the Crosß-etreet controversy, and ono or two similar affairs that independent men (when there have been any) have stood up m the Council and protested against ? Bearing these things m mind, will the ratepayers this evening allow this matter to be carelessly shuffled over and agreed to ? I hope not. If the Gas Company is paying a dividend, say of ten per cent., the shareholders m it will not care about parting with bo good a property, unless they can obtain a remarkably high figure for it. If the works are not paying now you may be sure the directors will make the sale do so ; and m the event o£ this latter supposition being correct, the ratepayers must eventually Buffer. Another thing to be considered ia this —As soon as the works are purchased those men who represent us m the Council, and who are large consumers of gas m shops, &c, will naturally go m for lowering the price, that they may reap the benefit of such reduction. People on the west aide and at the south end of the town — places where no gas ia laid on, or likely to be laid on for years will have to pay for this. As has been aptly remarked by no less an authority on human nature than Councillor Butter, there are men m the world who "do not go m for anything unless they can mako something out of it for themselves. (See report of Council m Timartt Herald, Tuesday, 13th inst.) The Council have proved themselves quite incompetent even to manage the lighting of the town properly, as the frequent complaints m your columns can testify. In one small matter, which I will mention, I think that they have certainly been over-reached by the Gas Company. All the meters which register the consumption of gas by the street lamps, and from which meters the consumption of the other lamps is calculated, are placed on high levels and close to the works, and consequently where the pressure is greatest, and where most gaa is consumed and wasted. The Company's manager may say that this is a f allacy, and that lam wrong. He is a very good working manager, no doubt, bnt any civil engineer or mathematician will support me mmy statement. A last word of advice: rJ. ! et , . the Cor P°ration interfere with establißlied industries, but rather let them try

to introduce that which we have not and that which is required. I am, &c, BbowH.