THE GAS WORKS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1855, 20 July 1918, Page 2

THE GAS WORKS

MORE LAND REQUIRED. For some time past the local gasworks manager has been working under difficulties owing to want of space for purifying the oxide, and on account of this the oxide has to again be used before it is ready, resulting in an objectionable smell with the gas. The Gas Committee has given the matter consideration, and in order to provide the necessary space, prepared an estimate for piping and tilling the drain at the rear of the works for a distance of 50 feet. This was considered too costly, as also was a suggestion of building a staging on which to dry (he oxide. The question of the purchase of extra land adjoining the works was then considered, and Mrs K. Coley was asked to put a price on the section adjoining (lie gas works properly. This matter was dealt with at the ordinary meeting of (he Council on (he 8(h instant, when a letter was. read from Mrs Coley offering (o sell a 3llft. frontage, and not less, at £5 per foot.

The Mayor said that the area of (he land offered was an eighth of an a ere, and the priee asked was on the basis of £1,320 per a ere. It was absurd. A. quarter-acre seel ion opposite the works had been offered to the Council for £BO. (T Walker agreed dial (he priee asked was ridienlons. It was pointed out that if the land in question could not lie purchased at a reasonable price possibly Mr A, S. Easton would sell a piece at the rear of the works, which would answer the purpose almost equally, as well. After some further' discussion it was decided, on the motion of Crs. Hannah and McMurray, that the Council cannot accept Mrs Coley’s offer, hut is willing to make a firm offer for ten days for the land at £2 10s Od per foot.

The. matter was further considered at a special meeting held, on Thursday night. The Mayor said that Mrs Coley had not accepted "the Council's offer, and he had therefore approached Mr A. S. Easton with the request that he should sell the Council a piece of his land at the hack of the works. Mr Easton agreed, and made the following offer in writing:—“l hereby agree to sell to the Borough Council section 18 Block VIII., containing one-tenth of an acre, a- little more or less, comprising all land contained in Section 18 east of George Street, with 44ft. frontage to borough gas works, for (he sum of £2O. This agreement is subject to the written consent of the lessee. I further agree to pay back to the Council the aforesaid £2O, the payment received for-the land, to construct a bridge with concrete pipes and filling not less than 15ft, wide at the eastern end of Gray Street, where it junctions with Johnston Street.” The Mayor said this was the best news he had heard for a long time.

Cr. Hannah t It is very generous indeed.

Other -Councillors agreed that it was a very good offer.

The Mayor said that in order to give access to the section from the works' it would be necessary to pipe and till in the drain, but a iength of 15ft. would be quite ample. There would be no difficulty in getting Mr Bryant, the lessee, to agree to this piece of land being cut out of the lease. Mr Easton’s offer was an exceedingly generous one. On the motion of Crs. Hurley and McMurrfiy, Mr Easton’s offer was accepted with thanks.