The Globe. FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1875.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 264, 16 April 1875, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1875.

There must be something wrong in the management of the gas-works. Two or three times during the last fortnight the inhabitants of Christchurch have been left in darkness at a moment's notice. What is the reasoD of this ? We presume some explanation can be given by the manager, but we should be glad to hear that steps lave been taken to prevent a recurrence of this disagreeable and dangerous deprivation of light. The danger arising from the sudden stoppage of the supply of gas for some three or four minutes is very great. Let us suppose a citizen takes his wife and family to the theatre, and while absent from home leaves a small jet of gait burning. One of these sudden itoppages takes place, and on the unfortunate householder's return he Ptdi hji rgiideoce io tUrknest*. He

naturally lights a match on entering the house, and then an explosion follows, which is probably attended with serious damage both to human beings and to property. "We do not mean to say that any such case has actually occurred after any of the late occasions in which all the gas has suddenly gone out; but it is evident that we are not supposing an impossibility, and that such an accident is by no means improbable. Is it possible that this sudden cessation of gas is in consequence of the mains not being large enough to supply the quantity of jets now nightly lighted in this town ? If this is the case, surely the gas company should take steps to. supply the wants of an increasing population. The company is flourishing, and ought to keep pace with the times. The directors are clear-headed men of business, and with an eye to their own interests they should be able to see that the accidents which have lately occurred ought at once to be enquired into, and the repetition of the occurrence prevented. It is not possible to suppose that they will allow the present state of things to continue until a really bad gas accident, such as latterly occurred in a neighbouring colony, astonishes everybody in the place, and calls forth an outburst of indignation which would prove unpleasant to every one connected with the G-as Company.