The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1887. THE MASTERTON GAS DIFFICULTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2663, 2 August 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1887. THE MASTERTON GAS DIFFICULTY.

At the'last meeting of the Borough Council a proposal was made to reduce the price of gas iu Masterton. Tljo • motion waslost,andapparently Councilloi'B wore wise in rejecting it, as if they cannot manufacture gas profitably at ibe current rates, they were unlikely to benefit by reducing them, There are,"however, somoreason:* which hubgest'the idea that after alia reduction of rates is tho true policy to change the present most unprofitable enterprise into ut commercial success, ft may be affirmed without fear of contradiction that for some years to come our gas works must under any circumstances, be worked at a loss, and the problem is not how to make them immediately remunerative,' because this is impossible, but to make thorn pay at as early a da to as possible. The-Borough Council arc doing their best to administer their gas department prudently and economically but there.ia a natural disinclination to faoo a very awkward position which in the direct outcome of past errors of judgment, It will be vcinembered that the Council intrusted the expenditure of a very large sum of money, about eight thousand pounds, to an utter strangor who happened to have collected an interesting assortment of testimonials. It was not long before the Cqunoil began to realise that they had made a bad choice, but then they were reluctant, to speak and afraid to act and bo the mischief was allowed to grow. The stranger too wht) was spending (lis thousands kept up apearances, he had the good fortune to have at his back an organ which was ready to jump down the throat of any one who ventured to cribicizo his work and when the celebrated tank turned out to be a sievo, the cracks and rents and holes in it were regarded rather as dispensations of Providence .than as enginooring faults, indeed tho Council took over from their 'officer a most scandalous piece of workwithout formal remonstrance. The result is that a great, many persons refuse to discard kcrosono lamps, because thoy believe that sooner or lator the tank will have to be re-built, and that tho supply of gas will have to be discontinued. The public will not have confidence in the gas supply till they, are assured of two things, first, that the tank is trustworthy, and secondly, that, the price charged for gas is reasonable Itwouldbe better for the Council to face the difficulty, and it any cost secure tho confidence of the public. Putting off the evil day when the*public must be told by a rate that gas is an unprofitable local industry,, will. only intensify tho difficulty. The lank will have to ho put in order, and tho. price of gas roduced, then, and not till then will it como into -general use, and be •manufactured on a scale that will ultimately ' yield a .profit,. For some years to come, a special rate to defray the interest on tho monoy borrowed for gas jpurpbseß must bo levied as a matter-of oourse, but the duration of the spocial rate may b.e .shortenedby the public being assured beyond doubt that they can obtain .an uninterrupted supply of gas at a reasonable price.

The usual monthly meeting of'the North" Wairarapa . Benevolent Society., takes place •to-morrow afternoon at die Masterton Institute. ': A B'ovioua fire ocourred;.on Sunday-m Gdoreo Street, Sydney, in the premises of Messrs Lloyd antf Joi.ies, mereer.s,..Messrs Kerry and Jones, photographers, and Mr Feraii's ivino shop. The total damage was over £30,003. Messrs Lloyd and Jones'loss is £25,000, The insurance" • amounted to £17,500. , Hanlim has made his final deposit with Beach.the champion sculler and sails from Now.Vorkfor Australia on August lCth ."-.•■. • Mr G. Baetkmw.uTaddresstho electors of the Masterton district at Kunpuh'i-pn' Thursday evaning next, ;4th' inst., and not.tin Dho 11th m 'previously.advertised. The dates of the Dreyorton and Mauriceville meetings have been altered from the 12th and 13th to the 6th and Oth respectively. 'Letters from "A wage-earner,"' ".-A' laborer," and " Observer" will appear in duo. coui'sq. Wo would, again suggest to our correspondents tho advisability of making their comitiunicutii>ns"i.-.i short as possible during tho prosenl election, to ensure publication. Wo remind our readers of tee meeting at tho Theatre .Royal tins evening, when tho question of Freetrade v Protection will be debated. Tho chair will be tajten at seven o'clock by his Worship tho Mayor, Messrs A. W, Kenall, T. A. Lyons, and F. Shaw have signified their intention of lulling part, and besides Mr Beotham, the other probable speakers will bo Messrs T. Mackay and A. W, . The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agencv Company, Limited, have received the following telegram from their London offico dated 29th tilt. :-Tallow.-Market Inegular. Inferior mutton tallow is in demand, but medium to fine is neglected. Good mutton is worth 22s 3d per cwt, and beef, 20b 6d. Frozen meat,-Market quiet. Canterbury mutton is worth 3§d per lb, and lamb Md. The invitation of His Worship the Mayor to the ladies of Masterton to meet at tho Council Chambers yesterday afternoon to receive and deal with a communication from licr Excellency, Lady Jcrvois, was not responded to. The .Mayor attended at'the appointed lime, but beyond a representative of the Da::ly no one put in an appearance. The Town Clerk was instructed to communicate the result of the meeting to the Hon. See. of the Queon's Fund, Wellington. Mr J. Nicol wishes us fo state that although he wis. lined -yesterday in the R. 81. Court for'allowing his chimney to become foul, the flue was quite clean, having received'tho attention of tho sweep only a - few days before.- The Maze was caused through one of hit' so;i3 inadvertently throwing some turpentine on thehro, In the Masterton B.M. Court yesterday morning, a few minutes after judgment was' given against T. 11. Dillon for a breach of the County Tie."; By-law's, Mr A, R. Buiinv applied fur a rehearing of the case. Mr Von Stunner acceded to the application, and appointed two o'clock as the time for the rehearing, but the applicants, after duo consideration, decided to abandon the case. Two boys were drowned on Sunday at Mewfon, Auckland, in a wa'terholo. The hole, which was formerly used as a quarry pit had been filled-with water .through the recent rains, and -a number of children were playing at the spot when one William White, aged nine, fell into the hole, and an ' elder' -jumped in to rescue hhii. In diving the latter struck a rock at the s : de of the bank and was stunned, both lads being drowned. A respectably dressed youth n-mied Wni, Dunbar Birrell,- whose name appears in the Police Gazette as being." wanted" went to the police station, Napier, on Sunday last, and confessed to having embezzled the sum of £OIO from the Commercial Banking Company, of Moloiig, New South Wales, When arrested, he did not have a cent, he. having gone through the .whole amount; in twelve months. He was brought up yesterday and remanded," Messrs.Lowes & lorns will sell at their yards to-morrow 1500 good heavy Lincoln ewes in lamb, 200' turnip fed wethers, 200 fat wethers, 200 fat ewes, 150 forward owes, 200 storo cattle, 100 good hoggets, 20 head young cattle,- 10 pigs, several horses, Ac. A telegram from Perth S.A., dated July 2(ith, says:—"A digger named Daniol McNeil loft. Derby for Melbourne, taking with him Mcwt of stone from the Rio reef, recently discovered at Mount ■Dockerill, in the Ember-ley district. The gold lieu in largo lumps in the stone, which is of ut crumbly nat'ire and dark elate color. Th'o stone is estimated to produce £3OOO worth of gold, Silver also sliowb in the atone." ■ Notice is given by the Masterton Road Board that a meeting of the Board will be hold on Wednesday August 17th to strike special rates under tho Roads and Bridges Construction Act, and tho Government Loan to Local Bodies Act. A special meeting of tho Masterton School Committee was held yesterday, Present— Messrs Bocldington (Chairman) McEwen, and Payton, to confirm tho appointment of Mr W, J. Andrew, an assistant toachor selected by the Board to fill a vacancy in the Masterton School, Mens Colonial Suits, 18s (id, 255, 355,. and 'lsa; men's trousers and veßts, 9s Od, 12a Od, 16s (id ; men's trousers, 4s (id, 7s (id, 10s Gd, Ids (id ; hats, caps, shirts scarves, belts, bracts, blankets, rugs, &<:., at prices '2O per cent below any other houso in the .trade," A call solicited, Tho Wairarapa Clothing Factory, next Mason's Ohoniist. 'ls, B, Hake, Manager. AxoinEß grand opportunity, .and the last, Customers to-morrow and dtiriii'g the ensuing week will see tho balance' of our surplus winter stock displayed on tables in the centre of tho warehouse at Te Are. Houso, Cuba Street Wellington, ;, Am, that are' on the tables wo are desirous lo clear out, and therefore wo have si ill further reduced them to. prices that must tempt the rao3t frugal.". .The balance of our glace Surah silks will bo sold out at 9sd per yard, the residue of ouv brochc silks at Is per yard, and the oddments of our super check silks in various lengths from 4}cl to Is 6d per yard, at Te Aro House,- Cuba Street, Wellington, . . We call special attention lo the extraordinary bargains in millinery. . All our millinory bonnets at 13s Gd, las 6d, and 18s 6d, Kill he. sold for 7s Cd; those at 18s 6d, 21s, and 22s 6d, may hi'had for 10s Gd ; all at %i Gd, fir 12s. fid; while those at 32s lid, ,"is fid,'and 12s'6d, 'an jmilmhj lo k hnd for 17s Gd, at Te Aro House, Cuba Street, Wellington. Ocr season's trimmed hats will bo also at proportionately, low prices. All marked from; 3s Bd to Cs 6d «mi/ be purchased for 2s 6d; those from 7s Gd'to 10s Gel, for Is Gd; all froml23.6dtolßs6dfor.7sGd; and a fow from-18s6dto2os.6dfor.10s Gd>at Te Aro House., Cuba-street, Wellington. Don't go without a- tea cosy for tho sako of one shilling, -nor wear wool glove's when you can get 2-button black French, kid for one shitting, mi 4-button tan kid for Is lid, •Frilling is surely cheap enough at 8d for 12 i yards; and-pompadour aprons for 4d each, at : the Wholesale Family Drapery. Warehouse, Te: Aro Houso, Cuba-street, Wellington.— Advt, ' .; •

; The Maotertou.liifles and school cadets ,nro ordered to parade for inspection and exercise on Thursday, Utli'inst. MrO. Collier'* advertisement re' wool scorning will.appear in to-morrow's issue, • -"Messrs Lmves and lorns add to their stuok salt) for.to-nioi'i'invlOflOirood ln'!>vy eives,- 50- young weathers and 5 young ateoi'fl.'.'."'..' ' .- .•";:.■ Notice is given in another column that: thS stocktaking sale at Rivo'sT. A, C.' Warehouse, Cuba street, ■ Wellington, is now drawing! toa oloiie. We liavc'recoived.too late'for our present -issue (in auiiouncoment of.,a stock taking sale by Masai s M.-Oaselberg-' aiid Co., which will' commence on Saturday next.. '" '.'"■'