The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette Published Daily. SATURDAY, OCTOBER. 3, 1896. GAS LIGHTING.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 82, 3 October 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette Published Daily. SATURDAY, OCTOBER. 3, 1896. GAS LIGHTING.

Several ratepayers have been giving expression to feelings of impatience with the Borough Council for not pushing forward the scheme for lighting the town with gas, with greater vigor. Although on the surface there may appear to be some justification for this feeling, yet when it is considered that when the proposal was first received in a tangible and reasonable form an election for three members of the Council was pending, and it would, therefore, have been impolitic, if not indiscreet, to'have acted with anything like undue haste. Where so much expense is involved, risks incurred, and tutu re responsibilities to be taken into careful consideration, it is always the better plan to take plenty of time before making the final plunge. No thing is ever gained by undue haste, while much may be lost. It may now be accepted as almost inevitable that the ratepayers themselves will not undertake the work of establishing ' gas works, although in our opinion they would in the end find that the cheaper and also the more profitable I mode to adopt. The loan proposal for lighting by electricity was carried by such a narrow majority that the Coun cil is not likely to be tempted to risk a failure again, so that the rights of the town in respect of lighting must be parted with to a syndicate, otherwise we will have to remain in our present condition. We do not like the idea, because the experience of other Bo roughs has shown that the conservation of their rights and privileges, however great or small they may be, has always been the better policy, while alienating them to syndicates, or companies, no matter under what designation, has invariably ended in dissatisfaction and loss of what would have been sources of income to the ratepayers as burgesses. However, there is one grain of hope left, and when the subject is discussed at the special meeting of the Borough Council, to be held on the 15th instant, perhaps some means may be suggested whereby the Council may bo enabled to undertake the work. A policy of self reliance is a good one at any time, even under what may appear to be unfavorable circumataooeft