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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 138, 22 May 1884, Page 2

The manner in which the Borough Council treated the application of the Gas Company, which was read to the Board on Tuesday evening, has caused considerable surprise to many who are not fully cognisant of the peculiarly narrow-minded spirit which actuates some of its members. Twelve months ago, upon the formation of the Gas Company, a communication was addressed to the Council with a view of ascertaining the feeling of that body with respect to the matter, and also asking their support and countenance to the scheme. The following was the concluding part of the letter: —“ It is now proposed to form a Gas Company, and I have to request that your Council will intimate to us the probable number of public lamps likely to be required for the lighting of the town, and the number of lights for the Borough Chambers. I have further to ask if the Council will afford the proposed Company every facility to carry on its operations, by granting permission to lay the mains, &c., along the carriage roads and under the footways.” The project was warmly received, and the discussion which then took place resulted in the following reply being forwarded to the Secretary of the Company :—“ I have to inform you that the Council are of opinion that they will require fifteen lights including office lighting, and that the question of laying mains in the borough will be granted subject to the approval of our engineer.” On the strength of this assurance the work has been pushed on with all expedition up to the point of laying the mains and service pipes. On Tuesday last a notice in the form of an application for permission to break up the roads with a view of completing this portion of the work was sent in to the Council, and was at once met with an obstructive spirit which would almost appear unaccountable in any other body. A motion was passed eminently characteristic of the source from whence it emanates, and more conspicuous for its meaningless verbosity than for common sense. The matter was shelved for a week, and the Company asked “ to indicate any source of power to the Council to grant their request.” What is meant by this part of the motion we are at i loss to understand, and can only surmise that its meaning is hidden in the profound depths of the movers wisdom. On receipt of the communication announcing the refusal, a meeting of the Directors was at once called, and a resolution passed to proceed with the work. Why the Council should wish to delay a work of such public usefulness and importance is most inexplicable, and can only be accounted for by placing it to the credit of certain Councillors who have ever shown a similar large mindedness in dealing with all matters affecting the public interests, but in which they are not personally interested or concerned. The winter is now upon us, and the necessity for lights in our thoroughfares was amply demonstrated last night when pedestrians were floundering about in the mire at much risk to health and limb.