LOCAL GAS SUPPLY.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 8, 15 July 1927, Page 6

LOCAL GAS SUPPLY.

The Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Board are applying to Parliament for powers to enable the 'Board and the Wellington Gas Cpmpany, Ltd., to enter into a contract for the supply of gas by the company to the Board. (2) To extend the borrowing powers of the Board, so as to enable it to borrow for reticulation purposes, subject to the approval of the Local Government Loans Board, but without taking a poll of the ratepayers. (4) To provide for two members of the Board remakring in office at every election. The members of thfe Board1 hasse i-ealised for some time that more reticulation will riot alone solve tke difficulty of meeting the rapidly growing demands of the district. The present horizontal retorts are not only out of repair, but are incapable pf producing gas no .the larger scale to meet modern demands. Rather than consider the question of renovating an obsolete plant, the Board has considered a tender for the installation of a. vertical retort system, which, when completed, would cost £33,000. An alternative scheme has been submitted by the Wellington Gas Company to supply gas to the Board in bulk, at a price less tha^n it can be produced for locally. The city plant is manufacturing gas at the rate of 600,000,000 cubic feet per annum, against the local production of 100,000,000 cubic feet in the same time. The economy of having its coal landed direct from the ships effects a saving of 5/9 per ton as compared with the cost when delivered at Petone. If the proposal is agreed to, the city company will lay a main along the Hutt Road capable of delivering all the gas required by Petone and Lower Hutt, and the Board will purchase its gas wholesale as it passes through a meter situated at a convenient point.