Masterton Gas Works.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4788, 1 August 1894, Page 2

Masterton Gas Works.

r Atftlio m)eeting r 'of/the Mostei-ton, ;- Sorb'ugh^CiunoijjVlast evening, the 'j ! following petition, signed : by 105 of . thVieading ratepayera of Masterton, ; was piesonted:— . To the Mayor asd Couhcihors of :; poiitionerai-reSpeetfulJy call the'a£ . tenfcipn of tho Council to thefpllowing"facts in .connection <..witb. the: expressed intontion;of the Council to . terminate Hie engagenienC of Mr..' •' Robinson, Gas Manager:— .~s ..>; 1 '■-. First: Mr Robinßori,'according to the report of the Gas Expert, laid before your Council,jlias been over- ■ worked. Ho has been trying to do V the. work that one man is not capable of doing properly. ■ Second: Mr Eobinson has, for some time,- done the work in a state. .btpbyMcal.inißrmitji''"^'^^^!!' 1, an accident in your employ that has permanently injured hitn, ' ..-• i>'v : 'i' TitißDi - Since'Mr Robinson has got assistance in the works, tho guahty of the gas has been could be desired. ■-'-■ ■'•' :.' x '■- For these reasons, we respectfully ask the Council-to reconsider its clared.intontionpf..iriimediatolyter* : minuting the : engagement< of 'MiRobinson." "'■'k deputation of twelve business men, ; iri support '■ of tho petition, waited on the Council. Mr Pownail, on behalf of .those preseht, : said the petition was sighed by a largo number of residents/includiiigtlibse':; who had complained of the gas before tho expert's, ropoit,, ; Tho «'petirr> turners didiiotwish te.'oxonerale 7 ■ Mr Robinson from blame, but toSxv" cuse and,'if possible, got him another chance.- showed that in the.'pasttliere'had been carelessness on the-pni-tof the manager, but, the deputation' agreed ■ that this, might have beon^through,top : much work having bceii put' s up6nliim. "The""" deputation-therefore wished to" urge"' that the manager in future should., not leaye tho Works during houftV of duty, mid that othor labor be employed to deal witlysonnections; and main-laying. The petitionee did riot nsk tho Council to.re-instate < Mr ■ Eobinson, but to [further.' ■ period of probation, to ascertain ' whether he is 1 capable 'of carrying on the work properly, He wished the Council to understand that the do- . putatioinvas not attemptiiig'in"niiy - way to dictate, .and thoy were aware.that.if the; Council did its strict duty, tho present manager j •would probably be discharged. Mr Robinson had a wife and family and . dismissal, would perhaps mean ruin. ; :All thoy asked was that the Council give him another trial, of say threo Months, and if.ho was .then- found not to bo progressing satisfactorily to discharge him, The petitioners asked tho'Cburicilto biT' on tho-'side of mercy, and give tliemahnger another' opportunity, As would bo seen the 1 petition ropresbntied a very and j influential section of the community, i and he hoped the Council would be ! able to meet tho wish expressed by \\ 'it. . ;...,•■ - ... ~, , ;■;,.; : w; I' I Mr' J. Graham endorsed'the re,niarks of Mr. Pownall. ,The petitioners simjily pleaded for a further probation, and did not, .wish' ;to dictate.

; Tlio Mayor stated that the matter should have tho.Couucil's consideration:'-- \i.:>\'-i-ii .:.? f-iiv

i Tlio deputation thanked His Woi'; ship and withdrew, . j ■ Cv Feist moved that the petition b'e received, and due consideration bo given to it after the applications for Gas Manager were opened,. T , : Cr Horhblow seconded themotuin. j Cr.P.ony. asked if a better: course \vould; riot be to deal -with/, tho'ipefr tion before opening the tendors. ; *.- ; \ The 'Major Baid that it would lie iiecessaiy ; to rescind-;-tlie;-; motion giving ,tie"; Manager ;a;;month's notice. , ...

. Cr,?Feisfc said" that liethouglitit wouldbeprematuretodecidewliethei' oivnot to re-ihsfcate tbe Manager at' the present moment. : ' : ! Finally, Gr Feist's -motion nVas carried niid the applico tipns; for GaS Manager were opened and Tread, including ono'' from;; Mr' Btosoil, stating liis '■willingness to accept any conditions imposed by the Council. ' : After reading a long list of applications "for the' position, the Mayor said they had a great mahy 1 applications before them," aridsome froni'very capable men, -.He. (thought 'that they /would'not be act* ing.rightly to. deal, with at Oiiee without 'consideration., .','Hd would' therefore-'move that Cra Hornblow, Feist, Perry, Hessey and tho mover be a special committee to dealwith the matter and report at - v,- ;? j-' i The Motion wis secon'dodand car* ried.,. ,',...,-..„ '". :.-..,,,., ! The Clerk stated that acting on: the instructions of the' Chairman .of the Gas Oommitteohe had,told 'the gas Manager to cohtinu e on 'duty for' a farther period, of one month,—The. action was confinnod. ,-- : ,