A PROPOSED GASWORKS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 30, 25 September 1912, Page 1

A PROPOSED GASWORKS

gas or electricity?

At last week's mooting of ratepayers a good deal of interest was taken in the proposal to establish a gasworks in Pukekohe. Mr Butcher's Pkofosal. A proposal was read from Mr T. W. Butcher, of Wellington, offering to instal a gasworks in the borough by private enterprise. Details of tho essential conditions were : (1.) Council to grant Mr Butcher sole right of lighting public streets or municipal buildings for 15 years. (2.) Council to have the right to take over the works and undertaking at 7 or 15 years. (3.) Failing the Council taking over, it to grant a further 15 years' concession subject to rights of corporation to purchase at tho end of that term machinery, plant, etc., at price to be ascertained by arbitration. (4.) Standard price of gas to be:— Ordinary lighting 9s 2d, heating and cooking 7s 6d, power gas C.s 3d per 1000 cubic feet nett. (5.) Council to be charged for street lighting and municipal buildings, 6s 8d per 1000 feet, or so much per street lamp for a fixed period. (6.) Work to be started in six months from signing of contract; gas to be supplied within 18 months (guarantee of £SO being deposited). The Mayor (Mr Dunn) said the Council could have given tho concession asked for without asking the ratepayers ; if proof were wanting that the Council was anxious to do the right thing they had it in this matter of putting the question before the people. As he said the Council had the right to grant tho concession, but although that was right in law he held it to be wrong in principle to tie up the rights of tho people for a number of years without their consent. Mr Butcher, after complimenting Pukekohe on its sr.: 1 'hat j ollioi •; • v.- r n..w ' -.n-„ submstt- <i, : u th'-r !'■*•!»" '.v. re j'Hi f;>re j i nib yay' r .!, ,[ep.'.;- i - w.-i<- j ! U.? ! '.'i ll,." • i ti> -Mir.. IoUTi I ;s I i ! I

FOR PUKEKOHE BOROUGH.

satisfied that tho prospects of the town were sufficiently encouraging to warrant him in entering into an agreement to instal up-to-date works for tho production of coal gas. There was no light equal to coal gas for a small borough. Besides the gas there was to be obtained tar for paving the roads and coke. For day consumption, gas saved the womenfolk from chopping wood and lighting fires.. All they had to do for afternoon tea was to turn the gas-tap ou. Mr M. H. Hamilton, who represents the Wanganui Pipe Co., put in a strong plea for gas as a municipal enterprise. Ho referred to tho " beautiful, up-to-date," private gas plants that are installed, which showed that capital and progress were behind the people. There was a fine site for a gasworks not far from the station, with a building now on it. They should get towards Buckland, because there could presently be secured in that township 20 or 30 substantial consumers of gas. Four miles of mains with the required plant would probably cost £6OOO and the interest on that would readily be paid the second year, possibly the first. They should have a double main, one on each side of the main street to save cutting up the roads. Metal was far more valuable than gas. He reckoned that 125 houses were likely to use gas and that would insure tho works running without drawing one penny from the ratepayers. The speaker gave instances where private ownership had been bitterly suffered by the ratepayers. Wanganui bought out tho private company and was now making over £2OOO a year profit. Their charge was os per 1000 feet for lighting. Hardly any private company would be likely to be satisfied with the returns that municipal bodiw would look for. Private couipar - generally V»op tr.■ >t !•' f-> i,.n- tiui' 11. j r vii-l-' kJi- \v;.>'lici h...v r. mw sit • rt !i wui'l I _'il i: ~s iji! iiintul '.runii ijv.! w-rk-< [iLmsi*. Mr Huiuhoi 1 , in reply, said his agreement would be clear and provided tho ratepayers were prepared they could take the works over at 7or 15 years. Ho agreod that every municipality should own its own gasworks, but if they hadn't tho money what were they going to do ? Mr Hamilton (referring to tho price of gas as fixed in tho offer) asked if Mr Butcher would bo prepared to say what caudlo-power gas would be supplied and if facilities would be provided for testing its value. Tho Mayor explained that gas could be adulterated with air just as milk could with water; it might be onethird gas and two-thirds air.

Mr Butcher said that when the concession was granted those details could be arranged. It was only a waste of time disoussing it now. His agreements provide for the use of an instrument to test the gas. Mr Eussell said they were on the borrow, borrow, bowow, and the rates were going up higher. Ho suggested that Mr Butcher bo arranged with to work the gasworks. Mr Perkins: Supposing the gasworks wero established, municipally or privately, would those with installations now in have to pay anything towards the new gas at all ? The Mayor said that proporty owners would bo responsible for the loan if tho borough built the works. He added that his personal view was that what was good enough for Mr Butcher was good enough for the borough.

Claim for Et.ectric LionT. Mr Dunn read a communication from Mr Suggate, showing what has already been done towards a lighting scheme for the borough. It was decided when designing the plant for the water supply to make it, as far as possible, applicable for lighting. With this in view an electric lighting engine was installed and the power-house was made sufficiently large and suitable for a dynamo whenever required. The borough thus had a suction gas plant, engine, and house applicable for electric light. The writer said that " in a town this size a coal gas works would only pay with gas at 10s to lis per 1000 ; at this price gas would not be popular and would be too costly for the average householder; and as for cooking it will not compete with wood or coal when gas is more than 5s 6d per 1000." Mr Suggate proceeded

to support eloctricity as against gas. A gasworks hero would oost L7OOO or LBOOO ; having a portion of the plant already erected an electrie light installation could be completed for L3OOO, or with an accumulator to take charge of tho day load, £4OOO. This included four miles of mains and would be an up-to-date plant with all the most modern improvements. He had no hesitation in saying that the gasworks here would be a non-paying concern." Mr Butcher advised the ratepayers to take no notice of this letter at all. In reply to Mr Morris, Mr Butcher said he would agree to mako the period at which the works might be taken over —7, 10 or 15 years. Mr Morris said the price of power gas was given at 6s 8d per thousand but they would want to know what the power of the gas would be. Mr Butcher, in further reply to 11 the alleged avariciousness of private owners " said they could not expect that those* who provided the money, and took the risk, would be satisfied with 5 or 6 per cent. The Mayor: Quite so. But why should the Council not make the profit ? Mr Eussell held that there was a big distinction between the management of private people who were investing capital and that of the Borough Council.

The Mayor said he would trust the people to put men in who would manage things properly. Mr Mclntyre moved: That this meeting approves of muncipal light. Eev. F. Dobsou said the Council should examine both gas and electricity proposals. Mr Perkins hoped they would also inquire into acetylene. Mr Dell explained that an offer had been made to provide fifteen street lamps free of cost if the Council would give a concession to shareholders who would be local people. The motion was altered to read that the Council investigate the various systems and report, and in this form it was carried unanimously.