MR HUTCHESON’S GAS CONTRACT AND THE CORPORATION.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 97, 24 February 1880, Page 3

MR HUTCHESON’S GAS CONTRACT AND THE CORPORATION.

To Tin: Editor. Sir— As an intending resident in yourtownsliip, I cordially agree with the expression of satisfaction contained in your issue of Friday last, on the probability of this town being shortly supplied with gas, as well as with your opinion as to the prosperous future of Blenheim and its line surrounding district, but 1 should have certainly liked to have had some more definite information upon thecontraetand liabilities of the several parties therein referred to, andbeingas I am clearly of opinion that the Corporation would have adopted a much more politic and safe course had it taken steps to ascertain the feeling of the burgesses on the matter (by public meeting or otherwise) before committing the latter to any definite course of action for such a period as three years. In the first place I would enquire if a priv.de a-1 of Partial) nt w'll not lie absolutely i ece a y to be obtain 1 in order to admit of ti e scheme being given eff'ec; to in its entirety; and, further, if the stree s can lawfully be opened for the laying of mains, or if rates can bo levied or th Corpo...tion fun 1 ; expen in the d ec t proposed wit at t -0 ni: g of ti ; -.cssary Parli • tary p i : d sanctn ? 'on state t t “ratepayers are not ob.iged to tale gas, or pay for it, unless they please, the small cost entailed rq n the Corporation by their guarantee (to Mr Hutcheson) being paid out of the revenue.” What revenue can this be but the Co poration revenue,— and how about the dissentient burgesses to this scheme ; —will they submit to the requisite payments ir ado out of this revenue? 1 am well aware and quite agree with you that in the sister provincial districtgas companies have been most successful, and have paid excellent dividends, but still I think all will agree with me that this is a subject not to be decided on the _ spur of the moment, or without due consideration, and I for one am free to confess that I should like to have had some more detailed information than the bare statement that the Corporation has agreed to guarantee Mr Hutcheson £1 OS per annum on his supplying twelve lamps for three years, bringing over his plant and making a start. At i all hazards, the Corporation must perforce perform its part of the contract. Of course j it is merely, as you say, a speculation on i Mr Hutcheson’s part, and this fact to my mind makes legislative sanction the more imperative, especially as he, as I gather from your leader, must break up the streets. Further, lias the maximum rate to private consumers been fixed, or is it at Mr Hutcheson’s option ? The matter might perhaps assume a very different complexion were tlie Corporation" ltself undertaking the introduction and perfection of the scheme. Notwithstanding the manifest advantage of a eas supply it behoves the Corporation to ! see that it "is not committing the burgesses I to anything which may afterwards prove \ to lie ultra vires, or by its precipitate aeI tion pledge them to a contract which may | be diliicult to carry out. In justice to Mr j Hutcheson 1 should not of course have : questioned the matter had not he definitely ("ami so far as he is concerned) conclusively 1 agreed with the Corporation. 1 shall return to the subject when it has been further ventilated, and in conclusion would add th.it the mode of obtaining the necessary legal sanction, by a private Act of Parliament, to aid any want in the Municipal I Corporations Act is not very difficult, and j I should be glad to place my experience in

this respect in preparing and piloting such an Act, at the service of the Corporation if so desired. —1 am, dec., Mxciiaei. Hart.