GAS SITES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3770, 7 September 1907, Page 2

GAS SITES.

Mr Stewart, representing Mr Butcher, has forwarded the following letter to the Borough Council re the proposed gas works site : Mr Mayor, Gentlemen, —I have taken the opportunity to be present at your meeting, so that any question you may wish to go into can be explained, and in order that there may be no misapprehension as to the position. The original site selected in Cook Street was eminently satisfactory as to position and suitability. The area proposed was ample for the next 20 years, as the works to he installed are capable of producing 6.000. cubic feet of gas per annum, or double the capacity of that originally intended. The output can be increased upon a quarter-acre to the extent of 20.000. At the same time if the Council anticipate taking the Works over at an early period it is no doitbt wise to look some distance ahead and ' provide for extension in the future, although in this case it happens to be at the expense of the Company, —but as the man said when in doubt with the box of Sedlitz powders —best take plenty, and he took them all. I don’t blame the Council taking as much as we are prepared to give them. We give you the option of three sites : acre in Cook Street, nearly an acre in Union Street with a cottage, and a full acre in Gray Street on the old Borough map ; the company acquiring an acre which the Council, should they so desire, will no doubt have the option of acquiring should they at any time decide to take over the works. Therefore I ask your Council to decide upon one of the sites offered, and at any early date take into consideration the quesof the number of lamps for lighting the streets of the Borough, and whether the Council will take the gas as a consumer at the rate fixed to the Council, i.e., 25 per cent off ordinary consumption—or contract with the company to light the streets at a price per lamp per annum. And further, that you consider the application to extend the period of six months, during which the company was to make a substantial start, for a further two months, owing to the difficulty which has arisen in obtaining a site that is provided, your Council is satisfied that we make reasonable progress in commencing operations.