THE GAS WORKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1062, 11 February 1913, Page 2

THE GAS WORKS.

The amount of gas manufactured at the local works during the month of January was 280,000 leet, which, with the amount in bolder on the Ist instant, 4,000tt. makes a total of 284,000 f- The amount sold to consumers was 223,500 ft, 158,00011. being for lighting and 65,500 ft. for engines and cooking ; 2g,oooft. was used in the works and manager’s house, 26,000 ft. in street lamps, and there was 2,000 ft. in holder on the 31st ultimo, leaving 4,500 ft. unaccounted for. The amount of coal carbonised was 23 tons 2 cwt. yielding xi,6xxft. per ton. The earnings amounted to ,£ls l 6s, made up as follows :—Gas sales 18s xod, tar sales, ,£27 xxs 6d, fittings account .£l4 123 Bd, and weighing £1 3 s >' total expenditure was ,£ll7 *9 3 Bd, made up of coal £2B 133 6d, wages ,£29 14s fid, and interest and sinking fund ,£59 ns Bd. PROPOSED EXTENSIONS. At last night’s meeting Cr Whibley moved and Cr Chrystall seconded that the Union Street gas main be extended, to Putter Street and a lamp post be erected on the corner of Union and Putter Streets. The mover said he had been asked by residents in the locality to bring this matter before the Council. He had got an estimate of the cost of the work from the gas manager, ,£67 10s, who also said that three new customers would take the gas at once if the main were extended, and two others later on. The footpath on this street was alongside the drain and in the interests of safety the lamp should be put up. Also, the ratepayers in that locality should get some benefit for the amount of gas rate they have been paying. The Mayor said he was pleased to support the mover. The Town Clerk had informed him that the gas works were almost a paying proposition and if the rate could not be wholly dispensed with next year at the most it would only be necessary to colleect a farthing in the £. This was indeed very gratifying as they could now look forward to a better street lighting service.

Cr Adams said he would like to see the previous requisitions for gas main extentions dealt with at the same time. It was not fair to shelve one and go on with this work. If he was assured that the others would also be gone on with he would support the motion. The Town Clerk said that Jenks Street was the only street in which the installation of gas had been considered and held over. This was on account of there being only two of the residents agreeable to taking the gas and the cost of the mains, etc., ,£54 10s, was considered to be too high for the return that would be received. The Mayor said the motion dealt not so much with house connection as with the street lamp. Cr Adams moved as an amendment and Cr Speirs seconded that the gas manager be asked to canvass the borough with the object in view of obtaining names ol prospective consumers, announcing that extensions will be made in the most satisfactory instances and that the motion before the meeting be held over until the gas manager’s data is forthcoming. The amendment was carried.