ECONOMICAL POWER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 386, 12 August 1911, Page 6

ECONOMICAL POWER.

During the past few years we have witnessed the seeming anomaly of manufacturers erecting suction gas plant in the selling radius of Waikato coal,and using expensive coke for fuel, instead of the fine coal which exists in such splendid abundance all around them. Of course, there was a sufficient reason for it. The Waikato coal could not be utilised in plants of the kind which were then in use, for after a few hours' run the gas pipes became choked with tar and the fire bar? with clinker. Recently, however, there have been installed a Campbell gas engine and suction plant at Messrs Ellis and Burnand's factory, which appears to have succssfully solved the problem of the economical utilisation of Waikato coal. The plant, which differs in its internal construction from all others, has been evolved after a good deal of experimentation by the Campbell Gas Lnigne Co., on Taupiri coal, and during the time it has been in j operation there has been no evidence of tar and no more clinker has been met with than is usual in coke plants. The plant requires no more attention than the old type, and the gas is richer and not so variable in quality as with coke. The engine is a fine specimen of British construction of 96 horse power, but the most remarkable impression that one receives in connection with the plant is from the fact that the enormous amount of nearly 100 horsepower can be generated for eight hours from about 4s worth of Taupiri nuts. The plant and engine can be seen in operation at any time during working days, and an investigation of their merits may be of advantage, to to those who require cheaper power than they have at present, or those who may be contemplating the establishment of an industry.