WELLINGTON GAS COMPANY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 14, 29 April 1871, Page 5

WELLINGTON GAS COMPANY.

The directors of the above company celebrated the introduction of gas into this city by a dinner held on Monday night at the New Zealander Hotel, the manager, the contractor, the inspectors, and the principal workmen being present. Mr C. J. Pharazyn occupied the chair, Mr Krull the vice-chair. After a most excellent dinner, reflecting great credit on Mine Host (Mr MTntosh), the chairman proposed the usual formal toasts, and in proposing the toast of the evening, “ Success to the Wellington Gas Company,” he had the happiness of remarking that the works had been carried on and completed in five months, without any misunderstandings between the directors and those immediately engaged in their construction. In fact it had been a happy illustration of the beneficial effects of the union of capital and labor. They (the directors) after due enquiry had risked their capital; but what they had done had only been rendered effective by the willing hands and hearts of those he saw around him. Much of the success of a a gas company unquestionably depended on the construction of their works on a sound and economical principle ; and he was sure Wellington had now gas works unequalled in the colony, both for cheapness and practical efficiency. He would a9k them to drink this toast—the last he would give them—with all the honors. The toast having been enthusiastically drunk, Mr Pearce craved the favor of another. The Chairman explained that he was only too happy to accede, and that though he had stated he had proposed his last toast for the evening, he had no wish to interfere

with others indulging in these “ frivolities.” Mr Pearce then remarked that while he cordially agreed in* the Chairman’s remarks, as to the union of capital and labor, he thought there was something still more required, and that was brains. Fortunately for the directors they bad had the able assistance of Mr George as their manager who had furnished the brains, and who united in himself faculties rarely found together, great powers of organisation, and a determined spirit of economy. The directors who had initiated the company had had but hazy notions of what a gas work really was, but it was Mr George who had brought their crude ideas to the consummation they were that night met to celebrate. After a few further laudatory remarks he proposed the health of the manager, Mr George. Mr George briefly and gracefully replied :—ln turn he craved a toast and proposed the toast of “ the Inspectors” who, he said had done their duty so well, that if he was ever called to have the management in the constsuction of any similar works, he would esteem himself fortunate in securing their services. After their reply, The Yice Chairman proposed the health of contractor

Mr Brown, who replied at some length. Mr E. T. Gillon next craved a toast, namely, the health of the directors. In his remarks he stated that nothing for the good of the general community of Wellington had ever been carried out with so little fuss or with so much success as the introduction of gas into the city. It had long been a reproach to Wellington that her streets were at night plunged into darkness, while Christchurch, Auckland and Dunedin had their streets lighted up. He congratulated the directors on their “ brilliant” succes, and thought they deserved well of the public for having introduced a great public improvement. The Chairman, in the name of the directors, replied. Mr Brown, in a few well-chosen words, then proposed “ The Press. Mr Hay, as the editor of the'oldest journal in Wellington, assumed he was called on to He premised a few humorous remarks, setting forth the analogy between the interest he had the honor to represent and that which was the occasion of their meeting together. Both were now Wellington institutions, and both had the same object in view—the “ enlightenment” of the city. The Press of Wellington had been lately noted for the same thing which distinguished the Wellington Gas Works —“retorts” —and the product of both had been often and perhaps justly characterised by one and tbe same little word “ gas.” As a private citizen who had lately cast in his lot with them, he could only express his high satisfaction at the successful inauguration of such a great civic im - provement. He believed that during the last twelve months the activity, enterprise, and civic reforms of Wellington had done more to add to its position and reputation throughout the colony than many other more pretentious and ambitious efforts disguised by the name of reform. Such an improvement as that, the inauguration of which they were met that night to celebrate, would do much to remove the reproach of the want of public spirit and enterprise which had been so freely east upon Wellington. He conceived it a happy omen, that he had been first asked to reply to the toast of the Press in Wellington on such an auspicious occasion, and he could assure them that the Press would always be ready to sup port any movement which had the interest of the public in view, and which was characterised by the same prudence and ability as the Wellington Gas Company had exhibited. Several songs were sung during the course of the evening, and the greatest harmony and sociality prevailed. It was indeed a happy union of capital and labor. Both met as natural allies, and the representatives of each seemed drawn closer to each other by sharing together in the festivities of the evening. We understand that the dinner was somewhat hastily got up and the absence of several gentlemen is thereby explained. Certainly Mr M'lntosh’s arrangements were excellent, and one would have inferred from them that he had received anything but a short notice.