Levin Municipal Gas Works

Levin Daily Chronicle, 21 April 1917, Page 2

Levin Municipal Gas Works

AN INTERESTING REPORT. A highly-interesting report on the doings of Levin Corporation Gas .Works (prepared by the manager, Mr A. Burjell) was submitted to tlie iborough council at its meeting this ivoek,. The full text cf the report is ias follows:— J hare the honour to submit for your "information my report (in detail attached) cn the working of the Gas Department for the month ending 2otli March 19'17. As this general report Will conclude our working for the last financial year, 1 take this opportunity > of submitting for your perusal a. summary of ilie affairs connected therewith during that period. MAIN 7 EXTENSIONS. Practically no ne-w extensions were made, hut several chains jclf fem'all. pipes in York-street required lifting and eplacing by n larger size. This was necessary to give a mere satisfactory vcrk'ng pressure to the consumers living in, that locality. About 10 chains of ljili. and ljin. pipes were laid a'ong Mako Mako Road from Mabel street corner to Mr Tom lievan's residence. This latter work, however, was paid for by the consumer mentioned. During the current year, it may be .bemcd advisable to lay a 4in. gas main from the gas works gate along Cambridge street to connect up at the Century Hall. ~ This will reinforce the pressure in the town generally, paritenlarly to residents in the outlaying portions of the eastern side of the 'borough. This work, although necessary, is not absolutely urgent, and "should . material be at a prohibitive price, I wen Id recommrnd this work to stand over at any rate for Another year. Some little decrease in the pressure is noticeable only on Saturday evenings, when the whole town is lit say from seven to nine p.m. When the above work is carried out this defect will be remeried. GAS FITTINGS, COOKERS, BATHHEATERS, FIRES, ETC. This Department is proving of the greatest value in developing the councils gas business. During the year we installed 20 new cookers making a total of 120 now in actual use. The demand for gas fittings, bathheaters, irons, and other appliances during the year lias been well maintained, notwithstanding the general rise ill prices for all gas goods. We have been most liberal to our consumers when dealing in the sale of cookers, very easy terms being given in most instances, and in all cases, stoves have I een fi:ted up absolutely free of charge. However in many instances larger service pipes have had to be laid, and a • larger meter also provided, hut although the initial cost comes fairly heavy, I am confident that the transaction will ultimately prove a most proftahle one. MAINTENANCE. I might say that we have always car- , ried out this work as far as our i. will allow, to the best of our ability. !3ut I find that as the works develop these duties monopolise a big portion of our time. In many instances coin sinners call upon us to perform petty el ities, which they might easily do for themselves. This would bo a big help the department, if they did so. I ref _>r to replacing of mantles, glasses et ' a lid the regulating burners. Although this work takes up a fair portion of

our time no charges are made. It may be necessary in view of the increased .cost of production to make a small charge for this work in the near future. STREET LIGHTING. This branch of the department at the present time is not at all satisfactory. Almost the whole of the Arc lamps at present in use, are worn out and require replacing. They have been in use about 8 yeans and havo done good Bei'victf., All lamps other than those in the Main street will be replaced by eqnare l.aiterns, and tho Main street pedestals will be fitted with new Arc 'lamps. -I anticipate that at least £5 will require to be spent on this branch dtK'ing the year. There are two or three additional new lamps required within tho Borough, and 1 details of the same will be put before the Council, when the above renewals are completed. PLANT AND MACHINERY The whole of the plant and machinary, has been maintained in good order and everything has worked satisfactory. Tho gas holder and other parts of the iron-work, was painted during the year, and the whole is now in a good l state of preservation. The only expenditure necessary to this branch of the Department for some years to come will be carried out during the current .yearn, the e-ection of tho new retort bench. The new retorts and all the iron-work for same are now to hand. Some si'if!< material will be required, and I will endeavour to ol>fcn.in this in the Colony, whore I understand a very fair sample is now being manufactured'. It is very gratifying to note, that during the 8 years the works have been running, nothing whatever hats been spent on renewals. In my opinion this must constitute a record. COAL, COKE AND TAR. Up to the present time, we have had no difficulty in purchasing coal supplies, but at the present time, prospects for future supplies are none too bright, owing to tho miners general strike. . We hold about one month'sstock on hand, and must hope that further supplies will be available before that time. In the meantime 1 am doing all that I possibly can do to replenish stocks. Demand for both coke and tar is extremely keen and all we can spare, meets with ready sale. It is my intention to raise tho price of coke say 3s per ton, should this met; with your approval. Considering that coal has advanced Gs per ton this 'must be considered only a fair proposition. GENERAL.. A few facts concerning the general advancement of the asworks since £ took over the management, a little over 4 years ago may he of interest to you. The gas manufactured shows an (increase of approximately 500,000. cubic feet annually. In 1910 the increase tfas 2,000,000 ahead of the figures for 1912. Since 1912, we ' have over 100 more meters in use, and 64 more cookers have 'been installed, also a gas engine added, which will consume probably 100,000 ft. annually. I think these figures will show the popularity of the undertaking generally.

The staff have worked loyally with mo in the interests of the Department and I wish to tender here my approbation of their services during the past year. 1 must also thank the chairman and-members of the gas committee, and also the Town Clerk ,for the support an dassistance rendered me at all times in carrying out my duties connected to the Department, during a somewhat anxious year. MANAGER'S MONTHILY "REPORT. Numbers of consumers 3-17 Meters in use 343 Engines in use 3 Coa,l in stock .tone) 40 Coal received (tons) 30 Coal carbonized 415 Number of street lamps 47 'Number of stoves in use 120 Gas for street lightting 42,000 Gins for House Lighting 120,700 Gaas for Slot Meters, 38,000 Gas for Cookers 238,200 Gtaas for Power '37,000 Gas for house and showroom 4,;T' Gas for Worka 2000 Gas for Library 4200 Gas for Borough Chambers 2300 Total 488,900 Quantitty of gas manufactured 500,500 Total output " 494,90" Gas manufactured 500,500 Total output; 494 000 Gsa made per ton coal carbonieedd 11,800 Gns unaccounted for 5600 Estimate of metres unread 6000