GAS.

Southland Times, Issue 1642, 1 October 1872, Page 3

GAS.

• The Nelson Examiner publishes the following letter, received by a firm in Nelson from a gentleman in Loudon, fiving some interesting information recarding a new process of making gas : — "We are, I believe, upon the eve of a great change in the manufacture of gas, which threatens an entire revolution in that and the coal trade. I have lately witnessed the working of Kromscbroder's Patt-nt, a perfectly new invention, and as yet scarcely before the world. By this process gas of very superior quality can be produced at a far lower rate than by that at present in use. aud its illuminating power compared with ordinary coal gas is as 24 to 14. It is produced without coal or tbe application of heat, by a simple and inexpensive apparatus which I regard as a wonderful discovery. I am not sufficiently scientific or mecha nical to describe it accurately, and can only do so roughly, but it appears to be a cylinder, say about 5 feet in diameter and 3 feet high, containing an apparatus moved by something like clockwork which draws in tbe atmosphere through a valve, and passes it through any mineral oil, (keroseae, paraffin, or any other,) and it comes out on the other side as mineral oil gas, being then conducted into the gasometer. The apparatus for producing a supply for the City of Nelson would not cost more than £100, and the old expensive machinery, retort, <fee, for its manufacture, are entirely done away with. I have been endeavoring to arrange with the patentees for working it in Nelson, as ail there is to do would be to get tbe apparatus aud kerosene, and fill the gasometer at so much per 1,000 feet. I cannot, however, come to anything definite with them for some little time, as they are iv treaty with a Company for the sale of their patent, so far as regards the Australian colonies, for £120,000, and I don't yet know whether New Zealand is included in tbat offer. They will not sell tbe patent as regards the United Kingdom, but license companies or individuals to work it subject to a royalty of 4d or 6d per 1,000 feet. As soon as 1 find out with whom to treat for working it in Nelson, I propose, if the terms are reasonable, forming a small company consisting of gentlemen interested in Nelson. If we can supply the Nelson Government at 7s 6d or 5s per 1,000 feet, and save them the cost of manufacture, they could not do better than come to us, and all they would have to do would be to erect their gasometer and biy down their pipes. Tou recollect, some years since, fears were entertained of a falling off in the supply of coal, or rather that it would be exhausted ; aud it was then predicted that other means would be discovered of generating heat, which in tbis gas appears to be verified, as it produces an intense heat, and a smaller apparatus than that described would suffice to drive a large steamer and save carrying coals. This matter is only, at present, ia its infancy, and in time you will hear more of it from a better pen."