THE GAS WORKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1725, 14 June 1917, Page 3

THE GAS WORKS.

MAY IVOR KIND. During the month of May, 591,990 feet of gas was manufactured, which, with the amount in (he holder on May Ist, 4.000 ft., made a total of 535,(100 ft. The amount sold to consumers for lighting was 210,300 ft. (cooking and heating 210,100 ft, and for power 111,500 ft.). Used in street lamps 21.(100 ft., used in the works 14,900 ft., and there was 3,000 ft. in the holder on .June Ist, leaving 23,(>00 ft., representing four per cent, of the output, unaccounted for. Fifty and threequarter tons of coal was carbonised, yielding 11,000 ft. per (un. MANAGER'S REPORT. The gas works manager’s monthly report as under was read and adopted at Monday night's meeting of the Borough Council: —“During the month of May, 591,000 cubic feet of gas was manufactured, which is a record for the works, and equals the holder being filled 59 times in 31 days, or an average output of 111,000 cubic fee! per day. The gas sold for May. 1910. w.-m 392,800'11., compared with 531,900 if. las), month, an increase of 139,100 if. Taking (he average selling price at. 7/8 per 1,000 ft., I his represents an increase of £53 (Is sd, J would recommend that the Council purchase a livc-cwt. set of Avery scales. !o be fixed in the s(okc house,'so that each charge of coal can he weighed instead of the present system of having to weigh two charges over the present weigh-hridge and average the rest. The carbonising plant gave some considerable I collide during the month, on account of the wind blowing Cmm the south, which caused a down draught on the furnace, the chimney being three feel, lower Ilian (be In Her on (lie roof, and i would recommend that the chimney be carried up another -ax feet, so, as to do away with Hie present complaint, i also draw your attention to a large crack in the chimney, which can be repaired at the same lime. During the mouth I received a consignment of We-1-port-Siocklon coal in mistake for "Westport, and the result was that the purifiers had to be emptied live times in ten days, and then a little free sulphur reached the consumers. The contractors completed the concrete well on Friday last, and I am fixing the side plates arid concrete blocks in position. During May live services have been cleared of water, and pipes levelled to save any future trouble. The puriliers eastings are being repaired, so that they will be ready for living any time.” REPORT OX PAST YEAR'S WORKING, At the request of the Mayor, the Borough Treasurer (Mr IV. Waters) presented the following report on (he working for Ihe Iwelve monlhs ended March 31 si, .1917: —Dining the year 5,918,999 ft. of gas was manufactured, and of this amount -1.845,(100 ft. was sold through private consumers' meters, as against 3,731,-100 ft. for the previous yc.-rr. The following are the details of the year’s output: In holder April Ist, 1919, 2,500 ft., manufactured during the year 5,(i18,909 ft., total 5,921,409 ft.; sold to consumers 4,815,1)00 if., used in street lamp.-, and works 503.(500 ft., unaccounted for 209,200 If,, and there was 3.000 ft. in Ihe holder on March 31-i, 191.7, making a total of 5,021, 100 if. On April Ist, 1910, there were IS tons of coal in hand, ami o9S ions 1 ewt. 3 prs. was purchased during the year. Of this amount 327 ton.3 cwl. 3 qrs. was purchased during there was a slock in hand at the end of .March of ->9 ion.-. The total value of coal carbonised was £BO3 7s 3d, average make.per ton of coal 10,009 if., average unaccounted fur 4 : ; per cent, of the output, average cost of coal per 1,000 If. 3- Id, wages ami salaries paid £403 Ms 9d. average cost of wage- per 1,000 ft. Is Sd, average cost of coal and wages per 1.090 if. Is 9d. PROFIT AXI) LOSS ,\UU( H"XT. The profit and loss account prepared by the Borough Treasurer shows that the receipts for the year totalled £2,511 11s i()d, that the following slocks were on hand at the end of the year: lilting.- £315 7s 9d, coal, coke and tar £l5O 18s Id, and pipes and pipe filling.- £127 17s 9d, accounts were owing as follow: Cuts (arrears) £l2 0- Od, gas (current) £l9l ,19s Id. and coke and tar, etc., £9(J 5- 2d. The above total £3,142 0s 2d, ami to this inn-1 he added the following capital expenditure from revenue: New melius £O9 17s 3d, .sinking fund £229, ladder and purifyer.- £275 (is 2d, mains £ll9 Is 2d, labour on new mains £3l 9s Id, and additions to plant £9 Is 3d, a total of £715 15s 2d, making a grand total of £1,158 Is Id. The expenditure totalled £2,498 Us 2d, slocks on hand at the commencement of the year, fittings £2lO 2s 3d, coal, coke and tar £O7 10s (Id, pipes and pipe fittings £95 Is Bd, accounts owing, gas (arrears) £.ll ISs sd, gas (current) £155 8s Od, coke, tar .and fittings £B9 0s 9d; interest £195, sinking fund £229, and bank charges £1 Is 9d, making a total of £3,850 Os 6d, and leaving a balance, being the nett profit for the year, of £3OB Os lOd. This, however, does not allow for depreciation, which, taken as £220, leaves a balance of £BB 0s - lOd. ONE PENNY RATE THIS YEAR. The Borough Treasurer reported that it would be necessary to collect one penny gas rale this year, a.- against three-farthings last year. The Mayor said that, .compared ...- ... ■—t

increased by one farthing in the £, but last year, in addition to the rate collected, amounting to £305, it was necessary at the end of the year, on account of money expended on capital account, to transfer from the general account the sum of £4OB, being equivalent to a further rate of one penny in the £, and making the total for the year Iyd in the £ on the rateable value of the whole borough, it will thus be seen that the rate struck is really a reduction on (bat of last year. It bad been argued that all delicieneies on the gas works account should be paid by gas consumers (by increasing the price of gas) and not by way of rates, if (bis were done it would have been necessary last year to add the sum of £713 on to the price charged for gas, which would mean an increase of 2.- lid per 1,000 ft. on the total amount sold during the year, bringing the nett prices up to: lighting 12s Id, cooking and beating Ills sd, and power 8s Hd. flow much gas. asked the Mayor, would have been sold at those prices ? He maintained that by selling gas at a reasonable price 0 stimulated a grimily increased production, which would übiiuatdy eliminate the gas rale, and ihu- assist the ratepayers in the most practical wav. Uoiitinning, the .Mayor said it may be neewsary in the near future to malic a slight increase in the price of gas used for beating a.ml power to (-over (be increase in I lie price of coal, but I bey should not lose sight of the fad that the financial salvation of the gas works would bo brought about by a maximum output of good (pmlily gas sold at a reasonable price. IN UREA SED OUTPUT. The following are the sales of gas for the month of May for each year since the works were acquired by the Council: —DU I, 174,900 ft.; !!M2, hi 1,2(10 ft,; Ml 13, 278,100 ft,; toil, 208,200 f|.; IOJS, 307,100 ft.; 1010. 302,800 ft.; 1017. 531,000 ft. COAL SUPPLY. The Mayor mentioned that owing to all coal for the works having to he railed from Wellington, it was costing very much more than formcrlv, ami an eH’orl should bo made to get a shipment by direct steamer if possible. A Her discussion, it was decided on the motion of Ur Bryant, seconded by Ur Walker, that the Mayor be authorised to proceed to Wellington if necessary re purchase of coal, or to .make other arrangements in the tutiiter.