BLENHEIM GAS SUPPLY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 124, 28 May 1880, Page 3

BLENHEIM GAS SUPPLY.

To tiik Editor. Sir, —Notwithstanding the several enquiries that have been made from time to time no information has as yet been vouchsafed as to the probability of this supply becoming a fact. It was stated a long "time ago in tlie public prints that a contract bad been entered into with Mr Hutchinson, C.E., for the supplying of Blenheim with gas, the Council guaranteeing £llO per annum for a certain specified number of Corporation lamps, the contractor on his part to find tho plant, lay the mains, and do all other necessary work and this was to be done forthwith. I presume of course, that some specified time was limited by the contract for tlie completion of the work. I do hope that some of our energetic Councillors will, at-the next meeting of the Council, require that an explanatory statement of some description be made so that if requisite Mr Hutchinson may he compelled to carry out his engagement. I would remind the Council that as yet no steps have been taken to obtain tlie.necessavy. private Act, though the Assembly will he in session - immediately. It is certainly not seemly that the ratepayers should he treated in such a cavalier manner by Mr Hutchinson, especially as tlie proposition emanated from him, and in all conscience sufficient time has now elapsed to enable him to commence operations.— I am. &c.,

Qut Patitpr Yinctt. [Mr Hutchiiison’s-'solicitor sent the contract for the Council’s approval and at the last meeting it was'referred to a Committee consisting of Councillors Rogers, Sinclair, and His Worship the Mayor. Their report will be laid before the Council at its next meeting. We arc of opinion that a private Bill is unnecessary as the Municipal Corporations Act appears to give the'nccessavy power to the Council. As two legal gentlemen are members of the Council no doubt the report will be an exhaustive one, dealing: With the whole question.— Ed. M.T.]

IN BE PETER KELLOR. To the Editor. ■Sir,—-I see by your columns of the 25th instant you State the majority of creditors in the estate of Peter Kellor agreed that the said Peter Kellor should have his discharge. That I must.deny, as there were only three persons present, viz., Mr McAlister, the Trustee, and myself. It Was proposed by the Trustee and seconded bv Mr McAlister, that he should. receive his discharge. I, as Chairman, objected to sign, saying I did' not- see my way clear, but a thought.struck me that the meeting was illegal. I signed it, telling the Trustee it was not worth the paper it was written upon, as the creditors could not discharge an insolvent.—Lam, &c., . . u • , ‘ P. Lawrence. Blenheim, May 24th, 1880. ■ , - . ;

THE RAILWAY LUNCHEON. To the Editor, *, ,Uh, ... Sir,—rCan you 'inform,me. under what Clause of the Municipal Corporations’ Act ihe Mayor and Councillors ‘are empowered to spend the’ ratepayers' •money in' lunches, also’ how ifci was .that three- persona were present not representatives, .other .promiu : . ent ratepayers being left, out in j’s»e .c.old ? —I ani, &c., 'Z * I , • ,JI E)ATEPAt£R.‘ , i j luncheon was paid* for by the Mayor and Councillors out of

their own pockets, but even bad it been otherwise we do not think any ratepayer worth consideration would have found fault. No persons were invit d outside of tlie Mayors, Councillors, Town Clerks, members of Parliament, and the Traffic Manager. One gentleman walked into the room by accident, lie being accustomed to dine in the room where the luncheon nas held. For this he apologised. The Reporters were asked to be present as the representatives of their {.respective journals.— Ed. JO'.]