GAS BOARD

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 26, 21 November 1929, Page 4

GAS BOARD

A meeting of the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Board -was held last week. There were present the chairman (Mr TV7 G. Lodder), and Messrs W. T. .Strand, S\ Clendon, W'. ileldruin and V. Jacobson. l

Daylite Signs, Ltd., WellingtoJ) wrote quoting for glass demonstration plates on the Board's.-trucks.—-Jt-cceivcd.r

The question of tin exchange of land between the Board and the Petone Bovough Council wa.< loft to the executive to deal with.

The Gas Manager (Mr 11. Appleyard) rej)orted tliat for the month of October 584 tons of coal were carbonised. 102 tons, b'ewt of coke •'used; gas produced 8,874,000, cubic feet; '■■ j*ne increased manufacture over 'October,' 1928, was 586,000 cubic |eet. Coke purchased from Wellington Gas Co., '70 tons, 10 cwt. The coke- purchased is to supplement our coke sales and to "enable us to use our own

coke in the new plant, as it is move suitable.for our purpose. ■ ■

■•■•■■- ' ' * • " ' •■ Fifty-four new. services : -were instaJi-iedj-44 new cookers,: 7 combination; cookers, 2 ealiphonts, 8 ■-coppers, (50 new metiers, 54 meters were changed arid 22 meters repaired at work. -*' CARBURETTER GAS PLANT I have,to report that towards the end of the month, difficulty was experienced jn. operating this plant, arid it was' found necessary to close down and open the carburetting portion, when it was found that several of the bricks inside the eylincler had became fused; and inelt•ed into a solid mass.; .'.-:. . In my opinion, this was due partly to the hurried heating .up".of the. - plant, when first erected to enable us to niake up our own gas supply and partly, to us. not having the proper qperatiug in- ■ : structions until sometime; after the I plant was put into operation .hyj the [ operator from Wanganui. The plant was closed down foi^ three days', arid although: there was a, good reserve, of gas on hand to begin with, this was- all absorb- ' ed before we could get into operation again and inconvenience was caused to consumers: through, the gas supply being affected thereby. /sr

• The chairman -and mvsftlf -have discussed matters in connection with immediate future requirements to put" us in a safe I am at present having one bed of six retorts renewed,, and immediately this, is complete, a sefcpnd and third bed will, .be renewed, and as

soon after as possible, :we_ should have a further, three beds .renewed;. At •,,the present time, our retorts are producing only between 3,000 and 4,000 eubSo feet of gas each per.day, but when they are renewed they will produce up to s^ooo cubic ,feet with N.Z. coals and 6,000 cubic feet with Newcastle coal.

The present condition of the "retorts, is. due to the .length of time they have been working and the very severe conditions they were subjected to during the last six months. With .an. additional two beds of six .retorts each installed, we should be in a safe position 'to ■•carry us over the past twelve months,'and it will give the Board time to decide upon its future policy, either to expand'the existing .system or to consider, very .carefully the advisibility of arranging for the installation of an up-to-date carbonising plant. >■. . ' . .-■

With our increased production of gas, provision will have to be made for further purifying the • plant and prices are being obtained for washing and .scrubbing p]ant. - ■ -

The dry. purifiers, and station meter !^archa.*ed from Dunedin Gasworks will rr^uirr to be erected and" larger mains ■j.laltl in the yard also another boiler will ■yb^rL'(|uired to augment the' steam sup- s for duplication. The-two beds v^ffijre.d, only as a temporary expedient, v^heLfeost-of new ones installed under our 11^^ *fl> st<;m ' although they ■ would ''npl "%Ts?"' efficient, in addition to which/ |e^l(s|fye installed at about one third of Vf^mj}* retorts as mentioned above, if with regard, to a supply of'gas ft^jM'" j;>rOlluets > Ltd., I would strong]y;**&«J££ wftl] tlle 1-apid increase in eon*uW^bt?^ft*. talcing place throughout the" di^vjfe|.«-^hi^'matter would no be delayed eot^^^^bly more fuel would be eon-?!ira(.3^|^%.vi.-u- of the present uncertain.