CITY COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2772, 5 January 1872, Page 2

CITY COUNCIL.

Yesterday. After the report of the Lighting Committee was read by the Town Clerk, Mr Merger, without comment, moved the adoption of the report. Mr Neale seconded the motion. Mr Ramsay acknowledged the services rendered by the Gas Committee, and would give his support to the propositions in the report. At the same time he thought the letter from the Town Clerk to Mr Lamach was something strong—clearly one that ought not to have been written. He could not compliment Mr Larnach on his reply, but in a business point of view he had some cause for replying in the style he adopted. The Mayor did not wish that any opprobrium should be cast on Mr Massey, for he himself dictated the letter, and considered he was carrying out the instructions of the Council in putting the request in a definite form. He could not see much to find fault with in the language. Perhaps it might have been more polished. Mr Barnes recollected the resolution by the Committee requiring the words to be inserted, “Yes” or “No,” to the terms of lighting. Mr Livingston did not think blame should be laid on the Committee. Three out of five of them had considerable aversion to meddling with new works, and were anxious to make arrangements with tbe present proprietor of the Gas Works, but they were imsuccessful. They would have been satisfied had the city lamps been lighted about the same rate as gas charged to private consumers, but as they were not met, they were driven to act as they had done. The Mayor considered the Corporation bound to consider’the interests of private consumers as well as public lighting. Mr Neale considered however great Mr Larnach’s provocation, he had stepped out of his way in his reply. The Committee had done all in their power to come to an arrangement. The Mayor assumed that the report would be unanimously adopted; foil if Mr Cargill were present he knew he would vote for it. It was a gratifying moment in his municipal career, as he had advocated the erection of new gas works for three or four years. Attempts had been made to purchase the present Gas Works ; but instead of L 22.000 offered, something like L 40,000 was asked. The committee, therefore, concluded to give up the attempt —they made a liberal offer, which was rejected in neither courteous nor respectful terms. The committee hq(j, therefore, no alternative but to recommend the Council to take gas supply into their own hands. He felt persuaded it was a wise step. The principle of gas works being in Corporate hands was carried out advantageously throughout Great Britain, and he thought the Council should not hesitate to carry out their own resolution. He did not attach the same importance to the supposed destruction of vested interests that some people did. New gay works would insure the citizens a full supply* b) gas £t the lowest remunerative price. At present "fteife were ftnly come three or four hundred consumers, but with the new works, instead of ,'about three or four miles of mains, it was proposed there should be twelve miles, so that the number of consumers might be expected to be largely increased. (His Worship read a report from the Melbourne Leader of a proposed company in one of the Melbourne suburbs, but as it did not relate to municipal works its only value related to price. The Company proposed to supply consumers at Emerald Hill at 9s a thousand.) The report was unanimously adopted. Mr Barnes then moved that as the Mayor was going to Auckland he should take the plans and specifications laid before the Council for inspection and advice of some eminent engineer in the neighboring provinces. Mr Livingston proposed that it be referred back to the Lighting Committee for report. The Mayor strongly deprecated any undue delay. He did not understand the mmutice of Gas Works, but every calculation was now reduced tq §qph exactness, that it was not so difficult to make a correct estimate of cost, as many persons seemed to think. Mr Livingston’s motion was carried, and the report was referred to the Lighting Committee to report upon the next steps to be taken by the Council. A few remarks passed respecting Mr Larnach’s statement that ten City lamps were lighted free, The Mayor said it was not correct—there might be two, Mr Barnes suggested that Mr Larnach might have been led into error through some of the lights opposite public houses being counted. The Mayor thought it probable. Mr Barnes considered those lamp posts shou'd be removed as reserves for the Corporation in case of accident. No resolution was passed. The Council adjourned sine die.