CORRESPONDENCE.

Waipa Post, Volume V, Issue 225, 1 July 1913, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Out correspondents' opinions are their own; the responsibility of editorial items makes sufficient ballast for the editor's shoulders. It is necessary that all letters for publication should bear the name of the writer—not necessarily f Ol publication, hut asevidence of.good faith.)

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR,—I regret that it should be again necessary to ask the favour of space in your columns to reply to Dr Reekie's assertions. It matters nothing what the doctor or others may report as to the price of coal, i have now on my desk, as I had when I wrote my last letter, a wire giving me the latest quotations for coal for gasmaking delivered free on trucks, and these quotations are 2s. per ton below the price quoted in my report, in spite of the fact that the said report was prepared over twelve months ago, I then allowed 3s for possible rise in prices which I anticipated: prices are up is only. Re the argument as to the quantity and charge for gas to be used in the street lamps : the doctoi is evidently not well enough acquainted with his subject. Quoting trie "report again, 1 stated:— "that a reasonable and equitable allowance should be paid to the gas dept. for street lighting, etc." In small towns £5 per lamp per annum is considered a fair thing. Ii may be more or less at the dis- ] cretion of the controlling body, but it was never even suggested that this amount was to pay for gas used only, thai, is manifestly absurd. There art othei factors to be considered in fixing the price to be charged—interest and sinking fund on the capital cost of installing the street lighting equipment, deprivation, maintenance, cleaning, general upkeep, including the renewals of ■ mantles, chimneys, and globes. . Ihad to take all these' into consideration in fixing the price. It is manifestly absurd to talk of 30 lamps using 450,000 cubic feet of" gas. Re best results and .average results, I stated that one ton of coal will produce 11,000 cubic feet of gas, as a matter of fact it is a poor management that cannot get from T 1,250 cubic feet to 11,500 cubic feet per ton. The average in some works is j higher, but as is my invariable' practice I purposely underestimated costs in my reports. \ like to have actual results an improvement on estimates. In conclusion, might \. suggest that I dp understand my business, and what I am writing about, that my reputation is such, that [ am not likely to prepare and submit a report that contains such misleading statements up have been ' inferred—l an, etc, TAS.W. BLACKS AM, ' "'": : M.f.G.C.