The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, AUGUST 10.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 213, 19 August 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE POVERTY BAY STANDARD. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, TUESDAY, AUGUST 10.

The idea of supplying Gisborne with gas was first mooted some time in the year 1878, but it was not until 1883 that steps were taken to, as it were, bring the rude matter into due form. On the 30th October a meeting was held by Messrs. Adair, R. H. Fisher, Maude, S. M. Wilson, W. Clarke, Stubbs, and Piesse, at which proposals respecting an electric light company were read, and several meetings were afterwards held to discuss the subject, the outcome of which was that the adoption of the electric light was considered impracticable under the circumstances. It was then decided that Mr. Piesse should canvass the town with a view to ascertain the probable number of lights required, so as to have some data as to the advisability or otherwise of inaugurating a gas company. The result was so encouraging that the formation of a company was decided on. The cost of providing 1,000 lights, the number at that time asked for, was estimated at Z 1,680, and the revenue derivable from the undertaking, reckoning the gas at fifteen shillings per 1,000 feet, was Z'2,814, or a profit of twenty per cent. On May 9, 1883, the formation of the present company was decided on, the capital being fixed at 10,000 in 2,000 shares of each. On the 7th June the Secretary reported that 560 shares had been subscribed for while a number of persons signified their intention of taking shares, and four days later Mr. Atkinson was authorised to prepare plans and specifications. Since that time the construction of the necessary plant has been pushed on without intermission, the employees having been kept at work night and day most of the time. The number of shares at present taken up is 1,775 out °f a total issue of 2,000. Many of them have been purchased by speculators outside Gisborne. At the inaugural banquet last evening the difficulties under which the Directors had had to labor were fully pointed out and special and well deserved praise was accorded to the Company’s manager (Mr. F. J. Piesse) to whose energy much of the Company’s success was due. Mr. Atkinson (Consulting Engineer), and Mr. Hawley (the resident working manager) were also fittingly referred to. The success of the undertaking may be judged by its predecessors in other parts, notably those of New Plymouth, Port Chalmers, and others where the works and consumption are about equal to what Gisborne will be in the course of a few weeks. The superiority of the light over kerosene is very great, and the cleanliness is very much in its favor. Many of the residents in Gisborne intend during the summer months to do away with fuel altogether and supply its place with the new heating apparatus. The Company have on hand a supply of gas stoves, and other useful contrivances which will come into use as soon as their qualities become generally known. We join with the gentlemen who spoke last night in wishing the Company every success.