A WAIL.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2784, 1 May 1911, Page 2

A WAIL.

[To the Editor.]

Sir— l am the owner of a fairly good house—enamelled bath, hot and cold water laid on (as the " for sale " ads say) and gas service, it is against the latter .that I wish to lift my voice, as the said service is rapidly degenerating Into an ornament through no fault of mine, but because I can't get any gas from the local supply. In this, however, lam no different from any other local con-

sumer—the complaint is general. A budding engineer recently informed me that the meter required overhauling ; he overhauled it; result—no gas. Another said the burners were at fault, I had

them cleaned; result —no light, but with the aid of my scent magnifier I could detect a faint smell ot melons. Then a third told me the pipes had water in them; he got it out, and, " Laborat mons nascitur ridiculus mus " —not enough gas to see " My mother's picture on the wall." Reminds me of the good old days when the best light procurable was the rushlight. Apparently the folk were satisfied in those days, but a repetition of the old order does not appeal to me, especially as I pay for a good light and don't get it] There is a talisman somewhere about the town called " the pressure tap " (a great joke this pressure tap, by the way). Occasionally when the custodian of the said pressure tap has skipped the winning rink or some poor consumer " says things " over the telephone it is turned on and light and lustre is diffused over the town—momentarily. Oh, Mr Gas Man, please do keep the pressure tap open ! Ido not like retrogression, but " needs must if the devil drives," and it the present evil is not remedied soon I am afraid I shall have to return to kerosene lamps and independence or lose my chance of heaven.—l am, etc.,

A Consumer,