THE GREYMOUTH GAS COMPANY. THE WORKS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 969, 4 September 1871, Page 2

THE GREYMOUTH GAS COMPANY. THE WORKS.

The works recently v completed for carrying on the operations of the Greyraouth Gas Company are situated in Chapel street, on two acres of ground, leased for ' Wenty-one years. The buildings consist of the retort-house, the pufifyingihionse, the governor-house, and the gas tank, all of which have been well and faithfully built, only the best materials and •• the most recent and improved appliances being used. The capital of the Company, when originally thrown open to the public, was fixed at LSOOO, and by many it was thought that the works, could never be completed and gas laid on for that sura, but we are glad to say that the directors have, by their good and economical system Of management, and the valuable services rendered by the Melbourne ageut, beenabje to keep the expenditnre within the capital. The purchase of th^e right to the lease, and the cost of clearing, amounted to LI 50. The erection of tlje r retort-house, purify-ing-house, and governor-house, cost L 370. The contractors were Messrs Gleeson and Steele, who acted under the superintendence of Mr Eissenhardt, and the work was completed to the -entire satisfaction of the directors. All the brick work, including the buldirig of the chimney-stack, 60ft high, the retort-benches, &c, wero contractol for by Messrs Walton and Murray, who completed their work in an excellent manner, The bricks which were used wore manufactured at Mr Coe's brickyard on the Grey River, with the exception of a small quantity used to complete the work, which were obtained from Nelson, as the weather here was too frosty at the

'time to allow of any more being ..made. The gas holder was contracted for in Melbourne by Mr P. Johns, to be erected on the ground. The holder is 36ft in diameter, and is capable of containmo;_ls,pooft of gas. In the first" estimates for tfie works which wore laid before the public, it was only intended to have a holder JlOtft. in diameter, , bjit^Jkayinjk in. yievr the increasing importance of the town, the directors decided to add an additional six feet, and this, of course, has added to the original cost. The whole of the apparatus, including gas-tank, gas-holders, retorts, purifiers, &c, cost the Company. L3SQO. The Company are much indebted for their services to Mr Forsyth (Foray th and Masters), who acted as the agent in Melbourne, and eutered into contracts upon most advantageous terms. The worus are fitted up with clay retorts instead of iron ones. They were obtained, by special favor, from the Melbourne Gas Company by Mr Foraythi •■■ The workingmanager of the Company, Mr A. Lowrie, who was engaged in Melbourne. He has superintended the erec'.ion of the whole of the apparatus, the laying of the mains, services, &c, and has, ever since his arrival here, been most energetic in the service of the Company.