Water Gas for Waimate.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 284, 18 November 1902, Page 3

Water Gas for Waimate.

MR WATT BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

Last evening the Borough Council met to allow Mr J. Watt, manager of the Balclutha Water Gas Co., to lay before them figures controvertiuh statements made against hia system of lighting, and also to put forward a solicitor’s opinion as to his position with regard to the Waimate Borough Council’s acceptance of it.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Manchester) occupied the chair, and there were also present: Councillors Ooltman, Inkster, Cameron, Nicol, Barclay, Jones, Freeman, Sinclair and Bitchenor.

His Worship stated the reason for calling the meeting, viz., tho request of Mr Watt to re-open the question of the installation of water gas in Wairnate. His Worship said he had not seen his way to call the special meeting on his own responsibility to discuss a question already dealt with. However, he had received a request from six Councillors to hold a special meeting. He asked whether Mr Watt should be allowed to lay before the Council his solicitor’s opinion on the breaking of the contract, and to explain away some errors and misstatements which had crept into His Worship’s report on the Balclutha gas installation.

Mr Watt reviewed all the circumstances from his first visit to Wairnate on this matter until tho present day. He referred to the agreement which had been proposed and accepted. He had ordered a considerable portion of plant, which had to be specially made, A number of false statements had been made in Wairnate about the unsatisfactory nature of the gas. His Worship the Mayor had visited Balclutha and had reported unfavourably on the system. His report showed that on a number of points he had been misinformed, and to clear up these matters Mr Watt was there that evening. A solicitor’s opinion read by Mr Watt was to the effect that the Council could not determine the contract it had made at the present stage, as the ordering of plant was a beginning of the works. The bond being to safeguard the Council in respect of the works in the town itself, there was no hurry to arrange for the bond until work in tho town commenced. Mr Watt went on to deal with Mr Manchester’s report in detail. He mentioned that gas mantles could be bought in Balclutha at 4d each, though the usual price was Yd retail. He proved that a number of statements of the Balclutha Town Clerk as to the cost of the street lamps were incorrect. He quoted figures in favour of the cheapness of water gas and the slight breakage of mantles. He read statements from a number of leading citizens of Balclutha. Mr Watt asked for two months in which to commence operations and to carry out the original agreement.

His Worship the Mayor said he went to Balclutha unbiassed as to the gas. He was shown round by Mr Watt the first day and found no one to speak against the gas. Next day he went about alone, and the report he laid before the Council was a correct record of what he had been told.

Mr Nicol said that when he went down he met several unfavourable to the gas, but all the users were loud in its praises. He could believe fully that the gas was good. Mr Watt said that he had the favourable opinions of three ministers, a doctor, four ex-Mayors, five Councillors, an editor and a number of other citizens of Balclutha, and surely they could be trusted. Mr Watt, in reply to Dr. Finch, the new Health Officer for Canterbury, stated that the gas had a smell and that it was non-poisonous. Dr. Finch said that it was common to water gasses that they were poisonous and had no smell. Mr Watt said his process wds unique and his method of manufacture prevented the possibility of poison. The gas had a very strong smell.

Or. Barclay said the two doctors in Balclutha had wired him that they were quite satisfied with the gas. His Worship stated that as the meeting was a special one for the purpose of hearing Mr Watt, they could not go outside that business. Therefore they could pass no resolution that evening revoking any previous resolutions.

Or. Nicol said that he was of opinion that Mr Watt should he given what he asked. They vould have to raise a loan to get in any other system of lighting and they were not likely to do that. Crs. Barclay and Ooltman moved that the opinion of the Council’s solicitor be obtained on the question raised by Mr Watt’s solicitor in regard to the termination of the agreement. Cr. Sinclair said that after Mr Watt’s explanations and the favourable reports from Cr. Nicol and others, there was no doubt that the gas was a good one. Mr Watt’s qualities had nothing to do with the gas. He thought that if the Council wouldn’t take tiie gas they would never have a proper lighting system. ,

Cr. Freeman supported Cr. Sinclair’s views. He thought that if Mr Watt did have the monopoly of the gas lighting of the town for 15 years, they were not likely ever to get better terms. Mr Watt would spend £SOOO in the town and yet he asked practically nothing from the Council. His Worship here cut short the discussion on the question of gas or not gas as it did not bear on the resolution.

Cr. Barclay said he was desirous of seeing a good illuminant in the town, but he wanted any reasonable doubt on the question of any wrong to Mr Watt cleared up before the question of gas or not gas was was settled.

Cr. Jones said that any further negotiations with Mr Watt must be fresh ones.

The motion, on being put, was carried on the casting vote of the chairman.