HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 285, 26 August 1908, Page 10

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

THE OAS QUESTION. . At the Lower Hutt Borough Council meeting oil Monday, following on Councillor Baldwin's motion to adopt .the report of the No. 2 Committee with regard to the proposed establishment of municipal gasworks by the Hutt Council, some warm discussion took place, and continued until a lato hour. ■ . Councillor Baldwin produced a joint report on the gas scheme by Messrs. Hix-Trott a n " whieli read as follows:— "Gas Suppjy—Hutt and Petone: Joint ■lingineers' .Report. , "Looking at this question from tho point of view of supposing the Lower . Hutt Borough Council possessed the gasworks and were called on to say at what figure they could supply gas to the Petono Borough, we,should first ascertain at what cost to tho Lower Hutt could gas bo actually manufactured.

'In order to do this, we take as a basis tho statement of cost as detailed in our! ro■port dated August 8 last, but modified to suit an output of eight million cubic feet, plus eight hundred thousand cubic feet representing the 10 per cent, less for unaccounted for gas,' which in this case' would liavo be paid for by Petono in. tho manner as the Hutt already pays. Then tho figures work out.r.s follow:—800 tons coal at 215., £840; purifying material, £20; labour, £478 16s. Bd.; interest on cost of land and plant (£7OOO at 5 per cent.), £350; Borough Engineer's supervision, £50; clerical assistance, £50: contingencies and depreciation, £250: total, £20.36 16s. Bd. Less 'value of by-pro-ducts (9600 gallons tar at 4d., £160, and 250 tons coke, £250), total £410; net cost, £1626 16s. Bd. . .

"The . gross cost of production equals '4s. 7sd. per thousand feet, less value of pro. ducts, which may be taken at Is.' o}d., leaving the net cost of manufacture at 3s. 7-Jd. thousand cubic feet. Therefore, if tho position be reversed . and the Hutt were the vendors, gas could be supplied at.tho above price, plus a reasonable profit over the cost of manufacture. The cost of a> special meter to register gas sold between . the boroughs would be paid for out .of the £7000 estimated cost of establishing works This estimate is_ prepared simply for. the purpose of showing, as before, mentioned,' what the position would be if the positions of the boroughs were' reversed, and to convince tho Gas Committee that tho Hutt should obtain their gas at, a lower price than' is now offered by the Petone Borough Council "(Signed) Henry Hix-Trott, Hi Birch, "August 21, 1905."

In commenting ,on the report, Councillor Baldwin said that the Borough Engineer, Town Clerk, and himself had, on receipt of the Petone Borough' Council's letter, gone carefully into the matter, and had arrived at the conclusion that gas could be produced- at their own" works; at a cheaper; rate than that submitted by Petone.' 1 This was confirmed;by,;Mr. Birch, when .-the estimate was submitted: to him. ' He also questioned the ability of (Petone to carry out- its contract if the ratepayers of that borough refused their sanction to the agreement. ' After. further discussion, an amendment was moved by Councillor Russell: "That the Council accept Petone's offer, and abandon tho proposed scheme for a Hutt ga:s works." Councillor Russell thought Petone had treated the Hutt fairly in all. their transactions, and he was in favour of taking a poll of tho ratepayers on the subject. Councillor Hughes spoke in favour of an, agreement, with the Petone Council on gas' matters. ' .

Councillor Hodgins was in favour of the report /as submitted by the. committee to establish gas works locally, and he was certainly in; favour Of submitting the proposal to , tho ratepayers, but was against a seven years' agreement. Councillor Judd agreed : with Councillor ■Hodgins with regard to the seven years' term.

On the amendment being put it was declared, lost, Councillors' Russell, Ross, and Hughes voting .for it. : . A further amendment by Councillor Ross was ruled .out of order.

Councillor O'Sullivan moved that tho Petone Council be invited to ■ meet the Hutt Council in conference in' the matter, and that, in the meantime ■ the -committee's , report be held over. Councillor Wildsmith seconded. : ' The amendment was then put and carried. ' HUTT PARK'COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Hutt; Park Committee was held at Lower'Hutt last evening. There were present Messrs. J, W. E'Ewan (Mayor of Petone), in the chair, and_ Councillors Colquhoun, Hodgins, and Baldwin. Correspondencs was read from Messrs. .Findlay, Dalziel and Co.,enclosing a letter re'ceived from' Messrs. Stafford and Treadwell, with regard {o the lease of Hutt Park in which it. was suggested (for economical Reasons) that the action,, Stafford v. Hutt Park Committee, should jbe decided by having a special case submitted to the Court for its direction, and asking, for instructions. ; .The Chairman 1 , moved, and it- was seconded that the' Committee • agreed to the stating of a special case as suggested by Messrs. Findlay, Dalziel and. Co; Tho motion was carried.

• [The original Hutt Park'trustees were sued, by Hutt Borough Council for'rates due, and judgment was given againsttho trustees. . The Hutt Council's solicitors, Messrs.: Stafford : and Treadwell, are suing the present Hutt Park Committee, for costs incurred in-the case.] • Councillor Colquhoun. moved that notices by erected warning the.public against lighting fires on the. Committee's Reserve. _ Councillor Baldwiu seconded, and the motion was carried. • Councillor Baldwin asked what course .would bo taken with regard to the .proposal of the Sporting -Association of Wellington to gain representation ion the Committee. It was the opinion of the Committee that any approach. Dy Wellington Associations would be welcomed in any form. It was not intended that the park, should be kept closed to the exclusion of anybody outside the threo local bodies interested. The opinion was expressed that the near future would see the Hutt Park the sports ground for'the whole community, Wellington included.- ,