A GIANT GAS-HOLDER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 82, 31 December 1907, Page 6

A GIANT GAS-HOLDER.

FOR THE WELLINGTON GAS COMPANY,

INTERVIEW WITH MR. H. BIRCH,

Mr. H. Birch, engineer of the Wellington Gas Company, Ltd., who has been visiting England in connection with-tho affairs of the Company,' has returned'to Wellington, after an'absence, of six, months. Interviewed by a ' Domioton ; representative, Mr. Birch stated that the imam object.;of his visit to tho Old Country was to''inspect the .more modern -.-.: gas works'in-tho big centres and toseoura certain plant that'was required for the extension of.'the Company's business in Wellington, i While at Homo he had ordored from'Messrs.Clayton, Son'and-Co., Ltd., of Leeds, a gas-holder that would contain one ! and a half million cubic feet of gas. This would -.be: the largest in New Zealand, the' Company's large'st. gas-holder'at;present only ! having a'eapacity,«f.4oo,ooo cubic feet—that . was the'big one 1 in Tory Street.: In Auckland there'was one that ■he thought held about,one and a quarter million feet, but the new one for, Wellington would exceed that "in size. The idea was-that the new gas : holder was to have been erected; on the „■' larid : the. Company Kad acquired at Miramar, • but. owing. to certain developments. nothing was yet .settled,'.'■ .•<"'.';•' '■'■' "".-""' • Asked why it was, a. gas-holder - was not , ordered in Now . Zealand.: Mr. Birch ..said'it was 'a, matter of price-r;the difference was so freat that it.admitted of no argument.. They ad the raw material, at Home, the .labour was,-cheap, .arid they, "had' the: machinery. '../ It would never pay to get the- machinery here for'gas-holders, as so few are required, but'at Hbmt 'they turned thein'out'once a .week. ' The machinery they, used 'was marvellous. He :'saw one • machine at work that 'riveted, a plate six feet long with bolts ah inch apart at one blow; He had also ordered ;on behalf; of the Company an extensive gaspurifying, plant that': would, becpine part of '-~ the new works. ' ~'..; : i .' _ Speaking of' the Gas.business as one; for '. investment,-. Mr. -Birch' said ho ;found; gas ".--' companies doing well everywhere,:and in most places that he visited they were going in for ;■'• extensions. Gas was considered one of the . soundest commercial investments to be found. Generally' sneaking, he was- of opinion that they were not very; far behind. the best in Wellington,. and what they were . behind would soon be rectified. '..-„■,. "There is still a fight raging between gas and .electricity at Home as to -which is the best' means of street -'.lighting. The gas, engineers are showing great ingenuity, and the electricians reply ■ with more powerful lights, but the goneral opinion is that the incandescent gas lamp gives the most agreeable and'effective light for the illumination i - of streets." -■.'■;■• Regarding his travels, Mr. Birch says that he was agreeably surprised' to: note the stato. of prosperity which'"existed in Australia as. compared with some three or four years ago. The good seasons had transformed the( people into a state . of- buoyant cheerfulness, in ; particular he: was struck with the progress , Perth had .made of late years. To a New Ze.alander, 'Mr. 'Birch : imagines that there can be no place more entrancing than Ceylon., With its wonderful air, rich colouring, .and- interesting' native's it; seemed .quite : another world; He was duly impressed with" that engineering moii-vel,' the- Suez Canal;, 'spent a few'days at Marseilles, a week at peerless Paris, and rushed across from there to London (via a 20-knot turbine-engined ~ ferry boat) in. eight, hours. ' After, ho recovered his breath he had a good look round London, and visited many .places of historic interest, and spent a good deal of his time works and gas-work foundries in; the different centre's. While at Leeds ; . ie. as district secretary . for Wellington, : !A.O:F., attended the annual "meeting, of the Foresters ■ High.Court, whore he found him-' self one of three: representing New rZe'aland: Tho Dominion ..representative endeavoured to escape it- but quite in vain, for moved away towards the front - gate, Mr '■' Birclr shouted out,;"I am one of those who ! r.! are. glad, to, get back."-•■..■•;--