NEW PLYMOUTH GAS COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 77, 29 July 1903, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH GAS COMPANY.

ANNUAL MEETMG.

The annual meeting of the shart holders was held on Monday, Mr A. Shuttle•ycith, Chairman of Direc'orp,preside. l . Tho rfporfc stated (hit the year's business had been satisfactory. Tha amount avnlable for distribution was £1977 5s 7d, which the directors recommended should be allocated to payment of the usual dividend of 8s 4d per shave on the Ist issue (fully paid up) md Is 8d per on the 2adissui| !20i pud up), including the interim' iividend oa both issues paid in Janu M-y last, £1000; £IOO to rf n ,wal ceount J .£3OO to be written off plnniccount, leaving £577 5a 7d to be cir id forward.

The outlay on plant hid been heivy >wing chiefly to expenditure incurred in urgently needed enlargements and ■dditions to the works, to provide foi \n increasing business. The sum ol £3333 has been expended on the ne■-« :oal shed and new plant, the call of £1 per share beiDg required for the ex oenditure on the new plant, which was working satisfactorily.

Tha Ohairnnn stated that the con umption of gas continued to increase, he quantity sold btiog over clovemillion cubic fee*, an increase of 2| Million on the previous year, and doubh hat of 1900. There were 572 consumers, an increass of 72. Th« Wcls bach system of lighting was now he coming more general. The expend!ure on pUnt amounted ro £4405. Tne excess of expstditure over capital had been temporarily met by bor/owjrl -money, but ss more capital is needf d 8 firther call was necessary on the 2nd A still further increase of d>n sumers migh' be anticipated during the ensuing year,

The report and bakiice-sheet were adopted.

Messrs Dockrill and Newman wert re-elected directors Messrs J. S. MeKellar and J. 0. Da vies were re-appointed auditors at the same remuneration.

Mr Govett inquired if the new plan* would give a better light. From hi own experience he knew tint the complaints about the gas were justified, ind he considered that notice should b* taken of complaints in order to keep up the standard of the service. Mr Thompson considered (hat if thf Company wera going to cater for tb> public thoy should leave no stone unturned to supply a good quality of gis. The manager admitted the prrssuro had bean bad with the old plant, but he could put on full pressure now

Mr .Newnrn said that with the new plant there should not be a complaint this montb, yet there were complaints on Saturday and Sunday nights. The manager said tint on Sunday a hand had affected the pressure by his action with a pump. Mr Thompson said that complaints were rife, «nd they would have to catei batter or lose tbeir customers. Mr Dockrill said that the staff were instructed to take notice of cnmplainffc ir.d that they were remedied. He had an incandescent light in his own house, and hs recently e'emed it fothe purpose of getting a better light. The manager said that in other places the gas was often worse than here. He considered we had better gas than Hawera. Afier further discussion the Chairman said that the directors woul' confer, and would s e that the com plaints were attended to. On the motion of Mr Govett, the di-ectors were votei an honorarium of £SO.

A vote of thanks to the staff, moved by Mr Mi'ds, was carried, and the meeting closed.