A GOLDEN JUBILEE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1923, Page 2

A GOLDEN JUBILEE.

FAITHFUL SERVICE. FOR FIFTY YEARS. It will bo fifty years to-morrow, 20th May, since the Hokitika Gas Company Limited, was formed. On the date named, a meeting was held at the Cafe de Paris Hotel, Revel Street, —e when a Company' with a capital of CIO,OOO of 2,000 shares of £5 each, was formed. Tho first Directors were Michael Cassius, William Evans, James Craig, James Mulligan, Fitzherbert Dermott, Thomas Horton and Charles S. Allen. The minutes of the inaugural meeting and the list of the original share holders is given in another column of this issue. Of all the names mentioned, AH Evans alone survives. At the time of the formation of tho company, Mr Evans was a well-known merchant \ in Wharf Street, occupying the premises at present used by Houston and - Company, auctioneers. Af.r Evans ts now the owner of a large flour milling works at Timnru. Afessrs W. Heinz and C. J. E. Linnemnim are the only local surviving shareholders who held shares in the company when first floated. During the fifty years of tlie existence of the company, very faithful service has been rendered to the town. At the time of the formation of the company it was threatened by a rival company, but at a subsequent meeting ~" of the principals of both parties, an agreement was reached, and the Hokitika Gas Company Limited, as wo now know it, was duly established. The most of the plant for the building and works was brought from Australia, andwithin eleven months of the formation of the Company, gas was being supplied to the town. Old identities will remember the excitement and interest caused on the first Saturday night tho principal shops in Revel 1 Street were lit by gas. In those days, tho chandeliers were not as simple as the modern gas brackets, nor were there any mantles in use for tho purpose of intensifying the light. llo"e\er, the change from tho kerosene illuminant was very marked, and it was not Ipng before the gas became very general in use throughout the town. For fifty years the service has been well and efficiently maintained, indicating that the founders of the Company laid their plans well, and enabled the future of the Company to be tho pleasing success it has been in service to the town. The Company lias been in tho hands of very good management. The works managers have been capablo men who paid every attention to their duties, ami the service generally has "f been excellently maintained. For many years, some of which were lean years for tho town and the Company, the late Air Peter Wilson was in charge of the works, and he proved a very eoouoiuical works manager. He retired after many years’ faithful service, having earned the esteem and good-will of the Directors of the Company, whom lie had served so well. In later years when the prospects of the town brightened, the gas service naturally increased, and at the present time, it is interesting to note, although electric light has come into competition with the gas, that the consumption of gas is at present well up to pre-war records. In *■- addition, the present works are reported to be in a most satisfactory condition. Air 0. Heinz, junr., who joined the Company as Works Manager a short time ago, has devoted a good deal of his time and expert knowledge to the complete overhaul of the works, with the result that, after an expenditure of about £I,OOO or £1,200, during the last twelve or fifteen months, the works are now considered to be in a most satisfactory condition, and equal to the requirements of tho town for many years to come. Recent visitors to tiie works from other large gas producing plants have expressed an opinion very favourable indeed to tho Company, of the works and to the convenience of the general lay-out, lor which, of course, the founders of tho Company were mainly responsible. In regard to the local management, the Company has always been indebted very much to Mr Jas. Kennedy, the present Manager of the Greymouth Municipal Gas Works. Air Kennedy’s advice and direction has been available always to the local managers and directors who have made the fullest use of his expert knowledge. Air Kennedy enjoys a high position in the profession and from time to time has readily come forward with valuable assistance, to ensure the success of the local concern. -—; Tlie Directors of the Company have consisted of well-known local people who (along with tho Secretaries) havo devoted much care and attention to their duty, and maintained a service of supply at a most reasonable rate to consumers. During the strike period, the management, in particular, was very effective, and it was possible for the Company to carry on without being threatened with a serious shortage of fuel or necessitating any serious curtailment in the supply of gas to consumers. This foresight was perhaps not appreciated by the local public, who did not feel the inconvenience as did many other centres in the Dominion, where gas supplies had to he seriously curtailed due to the dislocation of industrial operations.

The present - policy of the Company is in the direction of building up a reserve fund for any contingency which may arise in connect ion with possible renewals to plant or service. For this reason the Directors have been veryconservative in regard to the declar.'K lion of dividends, but a reserve fund is now being accumulated, which will record greater elasticity in connection with dividends to the Shareholders. It is interesting to record that many of tlie Shareholders are absentees. Further, in regard to the policy of the Company, much assistance has been given to the town with regard to cheap light. For instance, when the streets were lit with gas, the Company supplied the gas at a figure which gate hut a small, if any, return to the Company; also in connection with the sale of by-products, such as tar, the requirements of the town have had first consideration always, and the municipality is probably receiving its supply of tar, cheaper than any- other municipality in the Dominion. In the effort to further the uses of gas for domestic purposes, the Company has now available, a large amount of information with respect to economical cookers and heaters. Great advance has been made of Late years in the modern uses of gas for cooking and heating, and by the use of the latest manufactured plant, great economy is possible. Samples of the various gas appliances are being obtained from time to time, and are being readilyavailecl of throughout the town. It would appear, therefore, that the future of the Company is well assured, and that it is now setting out for a. future term of extended usefulness, not only for the benefit of the shareholders, but also for the benefit of the consumers and the town at large. Fifty years of useful service is an epoch marking time, and the Company is to he congratulated on the record which it lias achieved. The years of good service have earned the best wishes of the community towards the future operations of the Hokitika Gas Company, Ltd.