MASTERTON GAS WORKS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4300, 21 December 1892, Page 3

MASTERTON GAS WORKS.

The Charges aqainst the

Manager.

The Committee (Messrs Oullen and w Mutrie) appointed to investigate the charges made by P. W. Parker against the Gas Manager havo reported thai having enquired as iully as possible

into the oharges against the manage,mentof the Gas Works, they find \jj» that though there is room for suspic 'Vr-ion, they oannot, through tho lapsoof time obtain definite ptoof of anything more than gross carelessness and negligence, which undoubtedly exists and ha» for sume tiiue existed in tho ao< counts and sales of residuals at the Gasworks, Tho Committee recommend that to prevent any such carelessness or negligence ir the future, that nothing be sold, lent, or given ■ out of the Gas Works without an Order from tho Town Clerk, and that the manager report daily us to the Bale or disposition of tho material at the Gas Works to tho Town Clerk*'oV his assistant. In moving the adoption of the roport, the Mayor said that the whole business bad been unpleasant, and the thanks of the Council were due to 4 the Committee lor tho trouble they l)ad taken in looking into the mutter. It was necessary that such a state of things should lie remedied, and it was perhaps as ivell that Purker had brought the matter up, At the same -tjaQjie did not think they could do iwything for Parker, as it would be ' inadvisable to reinstate liirn at the Gas Works, and ho did not think that • either Parker or the Manager would wish it.

SeVoral Councillors spoke to the motion which was then put and carried.

Ct. Hessey also moved that the notice on the gate leading to the Gas Works be repainted, and that no person bo allowed on the works unless on business. The motion was carried. Tlio following letter from the Gas Manager ivas attached to the report:-" Gentlemen-,ln answering the charges made, against me, I will take them asthoy arc on the list. Before doing so I would like to deny any intention on my part, at any time, of trying to appropriate the money of the Council to my own use, and would ask you to take into consideration the many things I have had to attend to for sometime hack, and that the book being in the office a good part of the 'too (no doubt I should have had it baok sooner than I did) and that my health has been very much impaired, entries of sales were taken on scraps of paper which may have goneasiray, so that when entering up the book I had to depend very often on my memory, which may not have been very good on account of my health. In the event uf tho Council taking a (for me) favourable view of these charges, J would ask you to recommend that all sales be by ticket from the office, as i'b done in all othor places, I am, gentlemen, Your obedient servant . J. F. Robinson,