GAS COMPANY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 161, 2 April 1919, Page 10

GAS COMPANY

In recording the wonderful progress of tho,City.of Wellington, the Wellington Gas Company should not be overlooked. This firm was established in tho year 1870, and will consequently next year attain its jubilee. The general public will no do\ibt be surprised to learn of the large-scale on which the Gas Company carries on its business. Perhaps the simplest way of showing this would be by. means of a few figures. Tho quantity of coal carbonised last year was over 33,000 tons. The number of jjas connections is over 16,000, whilst 255* persons arc engaged in the company's service.

Tlicro aro 134 miles of mains laid, extending to Wndcstown, Kaiwarra, Northlaud, Kclburn, Brooklyn, Island Bay, Lyall Bay, Miramar, ivnraka Bay, Batuitai, and Jioscncath.

Tho showrooms of the Gas Company have been renovated and brought up to date-in every direction, and aro considered to be-the finest South of .tho Line. One of the most important engagements that Wellington ladies now have 6a their lists is the demonstration of cooking by gas held by the company at .regular intervals. Tnese are open free to all, and they are held at a convenient hour to most' ladies—in the afternoon. They begin at three, but. half-an-hour before that time it is usual to find every seat occupied. The main object ot tne demonstrations appears to he Economy, and that not only m the ipst and preparations of dishes, but in the use oi gas for cooking.' Miss Carter,' t)ie demonstrator, has a most simple but lucid style in her lectures, and it has been lound that she is most closely followed by her audience, who have profited when they, have rightly applied the full instruction they have received at these lectures. The result of .ibis economic propaganda by the Gas Company is 16 be seen in the great expansion' of the use of gas for cooking, N because it has been found to bo cheapest in every respect j from the point of view of the fuel bill , as well as. the large amount of nouse I work saved, which tne use of gas instead I of coal makes possible.

Owing to the war there has been a great shortage of the importation of all gas appliances, but (he company has, by means of its local industry, been able lo maintain tho manufacture of cookers, bath heaters, washing coppers, arc lamps, gas fires, circulators, toasters, etc., ere.

The land upon which the original works stood, and present, offices anil showroom stand, is ot immense vunie, unci as tho company has- of latter years built new works at Mirnuiar, the directors have decided that the land which, comprised the site of thi! old works is to bu subdivided and offered, for. sale. The -new sections will have frontages to Courtenay Place, Wakefield Street, and Tory Btreet, and are of the lollowing dimensions:— Courteiiiiv Place: Two. sections, each 33ft. Gin. by 120 ft. ■Wakefield .Street: Three sections—s6ft. 3iii. by 9iiit., about; s(il'(. 3iii. by 96ft., about, and 107 ft. by 139 ft. Tory Street: Five sections—94ft. by 100 ft,; 5211. bv 1121't. tin.; 44ft. bv 112 ft. Bin.; ll)6ft. by .115ft.'riii.; and usft. by Ml., about. With the general trend of business in this direction, the .Courtenay Place area is ranidiy increasing in value, 'The tram service is one of the best iu Wellington. The wharves are close at haluT, as are also most of the city's principal markets, iu fact, conditions are apparently ideal for almost any class of business being conducted in (his locality. The prices the Gas Company is asking.-for the sections are reasonable, when comparison is made with those of recent sales in the vicinity.

Prospective purchasers are advised to make early application, as numerous inquiries have already been made.—(Published by arrangement.)