The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JULY 13, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 164, 13 July 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JULY 13, 1874.

W% are consta&tly receiving complaints of the enormous expense entailed by the luxury of burning ga3 in Nelson, and the accounts that have been shown to us of the month's consumption in some of the houses seem to point to the conclusion that the meters are erratic and unreliable to a degree. So heavy and bo uncertain are the charges at present that the proprietors of many bouses who have gone to the expense of laying on the gas are seriously contemplating a return to tie old days of kerosene. One of the hotelkeepers in town assures us that for the month of May, during which ha was more than ordinarily busy, his bill was £2 16s.

He was much pleased at so moderate a charge, and was loud in his praise of the cheapness of gas, bat his views altered when for the month of Jane, in which he had not nearly as many jets burning, his account was over £8. In reply to a complaint made by him of this sudden and excessive increase, he was informed that it must be right, as all the meters were duly tested before being issued^but he naturally enough argues that if the mbter was correct in May, it artist of necessity have made an erroneous register iv the month of June. He is positive that his consumption was less in the latter than in the former month, while the meter attached to his house tells him that it was three times as great. Whore such uncertainty existß, and the owner of a house never knows witbin three or four pounds what bis monthly bill is to be, it is not likely that the number of ga9 consumers will be iocreaeed, while it is more than probable that many of ihose who now burn it will refuse to do so any longer.. The City Council is about to take over the management of the gasworks, and one of the first things they should see to is that their customers are fairly treated, otherwise they may lock the gates leading to the works, and post over them a notice: — "Closed for the present. Another of Nelson's failures."