MASTERTON GASWORKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8333, 16 January 1907, Page 7

MASTERTON GASWORKS.

EEPORT BY THE MANAGER. The Manager of the Masterton Gasworks reported to the meeting of the Borough Council, last evening, that the amount of gas made during the months of November and December, 1906, .was 2,475,100 cubic feet as compared with 1,911,800 cubicieet for the corresponding months of 1905. For the same months in 1906 the amount of gas sold per meter was 2,066,100 cubic'feet, as against 1,581,200 cubic feet for. the same ' months of 1905/ The revenue for the two months amounted to £BB6 12s 9d. The gas made showed -an increase of 29.44 per cent., and the gas sold per meter an increase of 30.66 per cent, as compared with the corresponding months of 1905. The Manager drew the Council's attention to the' fact that if / that rate of increase was ■„ maintained during the coming winter, the daily demand for gas would from 75,000 cubic feet, to 80,000 cubic feet, excluding Sundays. Under continuous working conditions the present twelve retorts were capable of producing an average of • 72,000 cubic feet per diem. It would be thus seen that, as stated in the Manager's report, the carbonising plant would barely equal the demand, with nothing to fall back upon in the event of accident to any part of the plant. It was absolutely ; necessary that some steps should be taken to meet the probable demand for gas, as it "was more than likely that the new holder would not be ready before the middle of winter, and, possibly not then.. Pending the carrying out of a permanent increase of the carbonising plant, the Manager suggested that the Council should fall back on the old retort house and empower him to immediately proceed with the replacing of four or five retorts in the existing arches at a cost of about £4O per retort. ' A discussion took place on the advisableness of substituting a scheme for the permanent .enlarge- . ment of ( the. carbonising plant tor l - that set out by the Manager in his report. The Manager pointed out that with temporary improvements the plant would do for about two years. Temporary' improvements were ab-, solujely necessary pending the erection of the holder. When the holder was put in, the - temporary retorts would be something to fall back on should a mishap happen at the works. He added that the money for the retorts 'could be taken out of the revenue. On the motion of Cr Feist, seconded by Cr McEwen, the report was adopted. ;.:.■,"