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March 6, 1997
Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Certificate Under Rule 24 of the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935
The Columbia Gas System, Inc. ("CG")
TriStar Ventures Corporation ("TVC")
File No. 70-8605
Gentlemen:
In accordance with the terms and conditions of Rule 24 under the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, and the Order of the Commission dated May
23, 1995, (the "Order") authorizing transactions as more fully described in the
Application-Declaration ( the "Application"), the undersigned hereby certifies
that during the period from July 1, 1996 through December 31, 1996:
(1.) (a.) There were no amounts invested by TVC in NGV related companies.
(b.) There was no third party financing used to finance NGV
activities.
(c.) There was no financing obtained from Columbia by TVC, or from TVC
by TNGV.
(2.) TNGV did not engage in any activities.
(3.) TNGV has not become an active subsidiary, therefore there is no
balance sheet or statement of income.
Very truly yours,
THE COLUMBIA GAS SYSTEM, INC.
By: //s//J. W. Trost
----------------------------
J. W. Trost
Vice President
TRISTAR VENTURES CORPORATION
By: //s//D. P. Detar
----------------------------
D. P. Detar
Treasurer
