WELLINGTON GAS WORKS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 13, 22 April 1871, Page 5

WELLINGTON GAS WORKS.

As the City is now to be lighted with gas (this day being the day fixed for lighting up), some information gathered during a visit to the works may not be uninteresting to our readers.

To all appearance the range of buildings devoted to the manufacture is substantial and neat, the company wisely having sought convenience and space in preference to ornament. The coal store, the building situated nearest the harbor for the convenience of receiving coals from the water, if required, is 40 feet by 30 feet, and is capable of storing about 250 tons. The brick building adjoining is the Retort house ; it is 45 feet x 30 feet, and 16 feet in height, and is covered with a neat iron roof, and provided with a longitudinal ventilator to allow the freest ventilation while the retorts are bsing charged. This building contains the retort bench, consisting of three ovens, each containing five retorts of cast iron, seven feet 'six inches long, D shaped, and the boiler for working the steam engine, and is iu every way a substantial and well-finished piece of workmanship j nor does it '. appear likely to be affected by any moderate earthquake, though we trust it will never be put to to the test in that way. Passing from the retort-house, we come to the condensers, tar tank, scrubber, and chimney stack—4o feet in height, and not such an unsightly erection »s those erections usually are j thence to the engine-house, 18x18, containing one of the neatest pieces of machinery we have ever inspected in the colonies. On a base about 6 or 7 feet by 3 feet, there is a 5-horse power steam engine, with governor and feed pump, a centrifugal exhauster far exhausting the gas from the retorts, and a pair of force pumps, which will act as tar or water pumps. These are being arranged in such a manner' as to act as a fire engine, capable of discharging a stream of water to any part of the premises. On the top of the engine-house is a water tank, 18 feet long and 6 feet square, from which water is laid all over the premises. Adjoining is the purifying-house, 40x30, containing four purifiers, 8 feet square, having a change valve 6 feet in diameter, with a neat and convenient arrangement of crane to lift the covers of the ; purifier and valve. The meter-house, containing the station metres, adjoins the j gas house. On leaving the purifiers, one -passes through the meter and thence to the jgas holder, which is 50 feet in diameter and 16 feet in depth, working.,in a cast iron tank filled • with water., It is capable of holding nearly 32,000, cubicVfeet of gas. The gas in reaching;the is.ready,for consumers, land the, only. further machinery required is the governor to regulate the pressure in the mains, and is fixed in a small building close to the entrance gates. _, :r .'..•*, ;"....?.','v,••■."-■ At the entrance are ,also very convenient offices, and in the lower part of the ground is

a commodious store 60 feet by 20 feet. The experimental works for testing coal are in themselves well worthy a visit, and we should say that no private gentleman would long remain without gas for his country house on seeing the ease and small cost at which gas can be manufactured in small works such as those now in übo by the Gas company for testing coal. The arrangement of the works and the buildings are from the designs of Mr J. R. George, the Engineer of the company, under whose supervision the whole has been carried out. Mr S. Brown being the contractor. The company is to be congratulated on their successful and satisfactory completion. The producing power of the works is equal to 40,000 cubic feet per day, and the cost of the work, including about 21 miles of main pipes, with the necessary services, &c, will not exceed £12,000. A six-roomed cottage for the resident workmen and firemen is being erected on the ground. Gas and water are laid into all the buildings. The whole of the arrangements appear to be convenient in the highest degree, and well laid out, and far superior to any other works of the kind in New Zealand.