1 Town Clerk's Office,
Town Hall,
Limerick 13th March '16 1912 Your Excellency, I am directed by the Limerick County Borough Council to
bring before you the undermentioned particulars with a view to
the obtaining of Your Excellency's consent to their proposal to
grant a superranuation allowance to Mr. Patrick Reidy, pursuant to
Section 1 of the Local Officers Superranuation (Ireland) Act,
1869-32 & 33 Vic., cap. 79. By the Limerick Corporation Gas Act 1878-41 & 42 Vic. cap.
160-the Council is empowered to manufacture and supply the
inhabitants of Limerick ,and to light the public Streets with gas.
The control and management of the Undertaking is vested in a
Committee, constituted as provided by the Act, and partially
appointed by the Council, and known as "The Gas Committee". The power of appointment and removal of officers and servants is
by section 42 of the Act vested in the Committee, but on the true
construction of the Act there is no doubt that an officer of the
committee is an officer of the Council for the purposes of the
Superranuation Act of 1869. It appears by the Minutes of the Gas Committee under date
1st June 1894 that the Manager reported that the Foreman had died
and that on the joint recommendation of the Manager and Engineer
Mr. P. Reidy was appointed to fill the vacancy, wages £2 per week,
and a house, light, and coals free. On the 10th February 1896 Mr
Reidy's wages were increased to £2:10:0 per week, and on the 30th
December 1897 to £3 per week and similar perquisites. On the 8th
April 1913 his duties were restricted to that of yard foreman
whereas he had previously been foreman over the yard and works
and consequently his cash wages were reduced to £1:10;0 per week.
On the 1st July 1913 the cash wages were again increased to £2 per 2 per week. In July 1915 Mr Reidy finally retired owing to the
fact that he could no longer discharge the duties of his Office
by reason of permanent infirmity of body. Mr Reidy's connection
with the Committee has been a long and faithful one. He was,
prior to his appointment as Foreman in 1894, employed at the work
works as tinsmith, from the year 1880. Under these circumstances the Committee and the Council
unanimously desire to grant Mr Reidy the highest superranuation
allowance which it is in their power to give him, and to
obtain the consent of Your Excellency in order to give effect
to their desire. I shall be glad to supply any further information in
relation to the matter which may be required and am directed
to ask that the case be dealt with promptly having regard to
the age and state of health of Mr Reidy. I beg to remain,
Your Excellency's obedient Servant, W M Nolan
Town Clerk. To His Excellency,
Lord Wimborne, K.P. &c.
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
Dublin Castle.