IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IN GAS MANUFACTURE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1291, 18 September 1872, Page 3

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IN GAS MANUFACTURE.

The following extract from a letter received by Messrs Morrison, Sclanders, and Co., of Nelson, is published in the Examiner : — London, June 27. We are, I believe, upon the eve of a great change in the manufacture of gas, which threatens an entire revolution in •that and the coal trade. I have lately witnessed the working of Eromschroder's Patent, a perfectly new invention, and as yet scarcely before the world. By this process gas of superior quality can be produced at a far lower rate than by that at present in use, and its illuminating power compared with ordinary coal gas is as 24 to 14. It is produced without coal or the application of heat, by a simple and inexpensive apparatus which 1 regard as a wonderful discovery. I am not sufficiently scientific or mechanical to describe it accurately, and can only do so roughly, but it appears to be a cylinder, say about 6ft in diameter and 3ft high, containing an apparatus moved by something like clockwork which draws in the atmosphere through a valve, and passes it through any mineral oil (kerosene, paraffine, or any otherj and it comes out on the other side as mineral oil gas, being then conducted into the gasometer. The apparatus for producing a supply for the City of Nelson would not cost more than LIOO, and the old expensive machinery, retort, &c., for its manufacture are entirely done away with. I have been endeavoring to arrange with the patentees for working it in Nelson, as all there is to do would be to get the apparatus and kenmne, and fill the gasometers at so much per 1000 ft. I cannot, however,

come to anything definite with them for some little time, as they are in treaty with a company for the sale of their patent so far as regards the Australian colonies for LI 20, 000, and I don't yet know whether New Zealand is included in that offer. They will not sell the patent as regards the United Kingdom, out license companies or individuals to work it subject to a royalty of 4d or 6d per 1000 feet. Aa soon as I find out with whom to treat for working it in Nelson, I propose, if the terms are reasonable, forming a small company consisting of gentlemen interested in Nelson. If we can supply the Kelson Government at 7s 6d or 5s per 1000 ft, and save them the cost of manufacture, they conld not do better than come to us, and all they -would have to do would be to erect their gasometer and lay down their pipes. You recollect some years since fears were entertained of a falling off in tho supply of coal, or rather that it would be exhausted ,* and it was then predicted that other means would be discovered of generating heat, which in thia gas appears to be verified, as it produces an intense heat, and a smaller apparatus than that described would suffice to drive a large steamer and save carrying coals. This matter is only at present in its infancy, and in time you will hear more of it from a better pea.