GAS WORKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1534, 11 April 1916, Page 2

GAS WORKS.

monthly statement. ' The following statement was submitted at last night’s Council meeting in connection with the gas works for the month , ending March 31st; — Gas in holder on March Ist 2.000 ft., gas manufactured during the month of March was 464,800 ft., making a total of 465,800 ft. The amount sold to consumers for lighting was i62,6001t., cooking and heating 126,300 ft., power 106.900 ft., used in street lamps 24,500 ft., used at works and manager’s house 22,800 ft., and there was 2,500 ft. in holder on April xst ; gas accounted for 445i* 600 ft, leaving 22,200tt. representing 5 per cent, of the output, unaccounted lor. Thirty-nine tons ten cwt of coal was carbonised, yielding 11,900 ft, per ton. The earnings amounted to .£249 19s4d, made up as follows : Gas sales, lighting £BS is yd, heat and power ,£72 3s, meter rent £1 19s, coke sales ,£3O 6s xid, tar sales £1 as, weighing £1 2s 6d, fitting account ,£53 14s 46, fittings £2 4s 6d, miscellaneous £2 5s 6d. The expenditure was as follows : Coal 6s 3d, salaries and wages ,£2B 9s Bd, labour (services) £5 is sd, fittings 9s, mains 73. pipes (mains) ,£1 ns nd, fittings £5 13s 3d, working expenses £7 6s 56, miscellaneous 6d, interest and sinking fund £59 ns Sd, total £1,69 xys id. MANAGER’S REPORT. The following is the report submitted by the gasworks manager to last night’s meeting of the Borough Council: — “I have to report a very busy time during the last two months. Owing to your last regular meeting being held earlier than usual, I was unable to submit report to suit. The consumption of gas has gone up so high for power and cooking that wfe found difficulty in keeping up the supply while we had the small bench of four retorts in use. In the first week in March we got the bench of six in use again. When changing from the small retorts to the old bench that had been repaired, our holder got so low that the pressure in the town mains was right off in the low-lying districts for a short time on the morning of March nth. This proved to be very inconvenient for a large number of customers. The shortage occurred through the heavy consumption, and also through depending on the new work to stand the holder pressure. The very heavy demand on us can be seen by reference to the sales through private consumers’ meters. For the two months, February and March, we have sold over 270,000 feet in excess of last year for tne same months. This means we filled the little holder twenty-seven times oltener, and as we run one shift only, we have arrived at a point where a second holder is. very much required. Since last reporting, we have installed eleven cookers, one new supply has been laid to a gas engine, and. one street lamp erected* Three new services have been laid and meters fixed. Thirty-one tons of coal have been taken in. Our coal supply has become very irregular, and at present our make per ton is suffering through having to use wet coal. The new cookers are giving satisfaction, and the shipment received have all been placed. In many cases we are getting a much heavier consumption, but in quite a number of cases the consumption will be only fair. Some limit should be fixed on the amount of free installations. In some cases it costs us about double the cost of the cooker to fix it. A limit ought to be fixed in the length of service pipe allowed for, unless a reasonable return is assured.”

When the adoption of the above report was moved and seconded, Cr McColl said he would move an amendment that it be referred back to the manager for a fuller report re shortage of gas, which was seconded by Cr Whibley. Cr Coley said there appeared to be some shuffling going on as to a new holder. He was under the impression that the manager had stated that a new holder was not required. The Mayor said that was not correct, the manager had stated all along that a new holder was required, and he had conferred with an expert to keep a look-out for a suitable - second-hand one, which could probably be procured at a quarter of the cost of a new one with material at present prices. An additional holder was a vital necessity. Cr Stevenson said that lack of holding capacity was no doubt responsible for the shortage of gas mentioned in the report. Cr McColl said that there need not be a shortage if a different system of heating the retorts was adopted. A statement was made re complaints heard in the street. The Mayor said that the Council could not take notice of what people said in the street, they could only deal with matters which came officially before the Council. The amendment was carried.