Te Aroha Ohinemuri News TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1889.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2097, 26 April 1898, Page 2

Te Aroha Ohinemuri News

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1889.

IJFPBPI THAMES ADVOCATE T This afeovo all—W thlno own soli ba trtaa ind it must follow eo the ajffhfc the dsy Tkov omit Rot then ba false to any bm. T !oilA K BBPRAKB.

Mr Atkinson, who has been here explaining to the residents the advantages attending the local manufacture and use of gas, and its superiority, Us an illUminant, both in efficiency and economy, the price per 10,000 feet • being only 1 Os, left for Paerou yesterday but returns to To Aroha in the course of a few days to canvass the township, |o become a borough, beyond doubt Mr Atkins' »u wishes to ascertain thefeeling of the public on the subject, and | a mere verbal promise of support will suffice, if given fr eely, to induce.him to enter upon the undertaking immediately. jWhile applauding any movement to'light the township with . gas, as a step in the right direction, and cordially agreeing with those who argue that anyone being at the expense and pains of preparing the way for its introduction and erecting the plant and gasometre should receive ample recognition in the way of privileges and opportunities to recoup himself we at the same time steadfastly set ourselves against concession to in dividiials of town rights. To give any individual, or association, for trade purposes, the sole right of lighting Te eleotricty, unlimited a 8 Tr|gdiriß . time; and the additional privilege of exacting a charge for the enjoyment of the illuminant, in consideration of such parties finding the requisite capital to finance the undertaking may to day appear a matter of Jbfifling moment to the average ratepayer. Too often we are tempted to look upon such striking improvements as being merely a matter, for individual consideration and decision. Veryjliftle reflection, however, will determine us that prolonged consideration from a, Higher plane than that |he individual is necessary . As good. citizens . we must take a thought, for those who will someday occupy our shoos. In ourhearinga ratepayer declared that gas, obviating as it would a large consumption of kerosene, numerous breakages and the exclusive seprl|ea <if an attendant, would save ■Mm ‘at modest estimate a man's wages per week. In order to bring r about so eminently a desirable revolution in his domestic economy, we haye'pq the ratepayer in question would not be too apt to con aider the terms of the agreement to be made by and between the contracting parties ; although one of the parties represented the interests in Te Aroha not only of himself, but of his children’s children. The concession granted to some of the London water companies are instances in point illustrating the evils of the reckless bestowment of city Rights by our grandfathers. To come nearer home we may cite the case of the carelessly worded concession in connection with the rights and privileges of providing Auckland with electric tramways. The price quoted -—IOB per 1000 feet—is reasonable provided it to be of average quality ; uit the monopoly should not extend beyond 21 years, and should not exclude the ratepayers’ right to introduce electricty. The question of accepting Mr AtkinsonV offer appears to us to bC one . of expediency. In the matter of Cheapness, cleanliness, and convenience; electric lighting, with the

motive power, we have at least the meais of conserving, at our back-doors as it were; is ahead of gas. The time is not far distant when electricity will play as important a part in our domestic economy as it does in America and, although in a less degree, London and other large British cities. We must not therefore so hedge ourselves in with disabilities as ,to cut off for even a shortened period our ,poßisibilities for its enjoyment, when' it comes to the colony on the wave of popularly we fully' anticipate for it before the close of the preseat century.