THE PRICE OF GAS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2762, 23 December 1871, Page 2

THE PRICE OF GAS.

To the Editor. Sißi —With reference to the advertised reduction in the price of gas to private consumers, which was announced for the first time in your paper last evening, I have been instructed to ask you kindly to publish for general information the enclosed copy of a letter forwarded on Wednesday last (the -Oth December) to the proprietor of the Gas Works, I have, &c., J. M. Massey, . , Town Clerk. City Council Chambers, Dunedin, December 23. [Copy.] To W. J. M. Larnach, Esq., as Attorney for H, A. Hankey, Dunedin Gas Works. Sir, —I have the honor, by the direction of the Lighting Committee of the Council, to acknowledge your letter of the 29th November, making a proposal to reduce your price per lamp for lighting the City lamps from LlO 7s fid to HO pjr annum, conditionally that the fines be reduced from 2s fid to Is per lamp per night. Your proposed reduction is so inconsiderable as to be scarcely worth mentioning. I am instructed, in reply, to inform you , that the Lighting Committee has again had under consideration the question of erecting gas works for the City. Being unwilling, however, to do anything which may have for its effect the destruction of a vested interest, the Committee has decided, before making any recommendation to the Council to immediately construct new works, to make you the following offer, subject to ratification by the Council, viz.:— That you contract to light the City lamps (288 in number), for three years, at (08) eight pounds per lamp per annum, each lamp to burn per hour the same quantity of gas as provided for under the late contract; and that you enter into a bond, on behalf of Mr Hankey, to at once reduce the lighting to private consumers to 12s fid per 1000 cubic feet, such price not to be increased during the next three years. I am instructed to request a definite answer—yes or no—to the above proposition, within one week from this date. Should no reply be received within the week, the Committee will consider that you decline to agree to the terms proposed, and will thereupon recommend the Council to at once proceed to erect new gas works, fop public and private lighting supply. I have, &c,, J. x\l. Massey, Town Clerk. City Council Chambers, Dunedin, December 20.