The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1872.

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

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1872.

We may assume from what passed at the meeting of the City Council yesterday, that it is finally decided to erect new Gas Works. We are not going to offer any opposition to this scheme, which appears to have the unanimous support of every member of the Council; and as the Mayor said yesterday, we presume from their known business talents, they have given sufficient attention to the money aspect of the question as to be satisfied of the profitable profits. We may not have—we may at once say we have not—the same implicit faith in Mr A. K. Smith that the Council appear to possess; for we have in our remembrance certain glowing figures which turned out more gassy than the gas they proposed to shew the cost of. His estimates may

this'time be true, for ; he has had his miscalculations in Cbllingwood and Newcastle to pilot him \ but be that as it may, we are not sanguine enough to believe efficient-gas works will be constructed for £20,000. We shall be glad to be deceived in this respect. Connected with this last phase of the gas affair, however, one or two little circumstances popped out which can scarcely pass without remark. We will assume that the Committee has arrived at a correct conclusion —we are bound to assume that, as the Council unanimously adopted their resolution; but if so, they remind one of the judge whose decisions twere always right, but the reasons lie gave for them, commonly wrong. They tell the town that the “representative of the proprietor” of the present gas works, declined the offer made to him “in “ such terms as to close the door “ against further negociations. We therefore referred to his letter, and were surprised to find that Mr Larnach, so far from that, absolutely in* vites further negociations. He courteously tells the Corporation that the price they offer will not reimburse the cost of manufacture of gas to supply the City lamps, but invites further consideration of the subject on terms mutually advantageous —that is, he would be willing to make better terms for a lengthened than for a short contact Of course, if a man or a corporation makes up its mind that an offer is to be final, a simple “ yes ” or «no ” settles it. It is plain, however, that Mr Larnach did not consider it in that light, notwithstanding the brusque style of the communication he received. He no doubt supposed it to be intended to bounce him into an unprofitable contract by holding up the Gas Works, as a bogie to terrify him. Mr Larnach evidently did not believe that the Committee meant ; what they said; although if it be true that he would have lost money by such an arrangement, as a business man, we do not see that he could have done otherwise than decline their offer. It may strike some one outside the Corporation to ask within themselves, Is it true that gas cannot be made at the price offered ? If so, where is the profit of new gas works 1 I t appears from Mr Smith’s estimate that the cost of supplying each lamp would be £7 11s annually. The offer of the . Corporation was £B. This we concede would be liberal if Mr Smith’s estimate can be relied on. But really this is of no moment in the minds of the Committee, because if the gas manufacture does not pay, “ any pos- “ sible deficiency in the revenue ” . . ■. would have to be “ made good out of rates upon the “ City property.” With such a cow to suck as the City, the gas works must pay their way; and if there should be a little loss, the City will have the pleasure of playing with a costly toy—for, say the Committee, the u works would, in fact, be owned “by the citizens at large.” Now we wish it to be clearly understood we are only commenting on ft public document —not condemning the scheme. It may be a very good one; but, if so, it is supported by very bad reasoning. One other circumstance occurred which deserves more attention than has been given to it. The letter which Mr Larnach received, signed by the Town Clerk, tarns out to have been dictated by the Mayor. His Worship very candidly confessed that yesterday, and this removed any j blame that might have been laid upon Mr Massey to his own shoulders, 8o far, so good—the saddle is on the right horse. But the City has a perfect right to know what bis Worship claims to be ? In every corporate town except Dunedin—in every Qfchey corporation we have seen, and it has been our lot to be acquainted with the ,ex.e-1 cutive arrangements of many—the 1 Town Clerk is the executive officer, answerable to the citizens for the manner in which the resolution* of the Council are carried out. In Dunedin, he appears to be only the Mayor’s Clerk, deprived of independent action, and required to put his name to any document his master pro. tem. may bid him. This ought not to be. Intimate as is the connection between the Chief Citizen and the Executive Officer, the really responsible officer should be the Town Clerk. He should stand between the citizens and the Council, protecting ) City interests against the mistakes or' injudicious interference of the Council or even the Mayor himself. Important as is the office of Mayor, it is only ephemeral j but the Town Clerk is permanent. Although, at all times he may feel it politic to consult the Mayor, he should not at all times be bound to follow his advice ; and we are compelled to think that his Worship would do wisely not to mix himself up with mere executive matters in future, but to leave them to the agent of the town—the Town Clerk.