THE GAS QUESTION.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2196, 21 May 1870, Page 2

THE GAS QUESTION.

To tlie L-ditor of the Eveifmy Sia?. Sir, —ln your issue of last evening, you appear to cast a reflection upon my crnduct in opposing the motion to purchase the present gas works at L 22,()()(), and nothing as to the other four members of the Council who voted with me. 1 beg to state that I based my opinion solely upon the report of Mr A. K. Smith, who pronounced the whole qf thq v/ojAc, esprrially the laying of unsuitable M T ahVs qs (icing in’a ver^defective state ; had that' gentlemah beeii’ requested to report generally upon these works no doubt he would have put a far less value upon them than Mr Blair has done. With regard to building new works, I think it is a matter for consideration when we find a contractor comes forward with an offer to erect substantial works according to our own plans and specifications “at his qwn cost,” and t'fidpublib' lighting at Ll.OfjO a yeaV, less than wc nqw pay, also charge private consumers 15s per 1,009 feet, with an under-

taking to sell the works at a valuation whenever the Corporation is in a position to purchase. We should then know what we were buying, and get value for* our money, which in my opinion we shall not obtain by purchasing the present works. —Yours, &c., T. M. Wilkinson. Dunedin, May 20th.