MUNICIPAL GAS WORKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9034, 22 January 1908, Page 6

MUNICIPAL GAS WORKS.

CARBONIZING PLANT TO BE REMOVED. REPORT BY THE MANAGER ADOPTED.

The Manager of the Corporation Gas Works (Mr J. W. Blackman) submitted a lengthy report to the meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, last evening, on the proposal to remove the carbonizing plant of the Gas Works to a site near the railway station. In the course of his remarks, Mr Blackmail stated that the proposed site was on the Bishops' Reseve, in the vicinity uf the Masterton railway station, and has an area of some three and a-half acre?, with a frontage to the railway of 6 chains 50 feet, which would give siding accommodation of 400 feet in length. The natural configuration of the section was such that the railway siding could be some feet higher than the charging floor of the retort house and coal stores, thus enabling the coal to be at a minimum cost, both for carbonizing or sale purposes. The proposed site was in every way a most suitable one for a Gas Works and the business connected therewith. Dealing with the advantages of the proposed change of sites, the Manager reported that with the siding which the railway Department was prepared to put into the Works, the saving in costs would not only be the cartage of coal used for manufacturing and sale purposes, but also the cost of cartage on main pipes, meters, stoves, retorts, and all the various miteriat used in a gas works, and in addition the outward cartage on coke, tar, etc., that was despatched to places outside Masterton. Assuming, as in the report of May last, an increase in the gas business at the rate of 15 per cent, psr annum, in five or six years time some 3,800 tons of coal for manufacturing would be required, and not less than 500 tons for sale purposes for twelve months' operation. The cost of carting and one handling of 4,000 tons of coal might be taken at 2s 3d per ton—viz., £450, and adding other cartages, etc., say £IOO, there would be a total of £550 per annum saved in working expenses, which amount would increase "pro rata" as the business of the Gas Department increased. The cost of the proposed change of sites would be approximately as follows:—Cost of railway siding, £500; cost of trunk main to gas holders, £1,500; cost of additional buildings, < workshop, etc., £1,000; value of land (Government valuation), £420; contingencies, including dismantling, removal and re-erection of existing plant, etc., £1,500; total, £4,1(20 say £5,000. Against this there was the value of the present site and buildings, probably not * less than £2,000; so the nett cost of the change would be approximately £3,Q00. The annual charge for interest and sinkin ? fund on this amount at 6 per cent, would be £IBO. If, however, instead of charging the capital account with the cost, a sum of £SOO per annum was allocated from the ordinary revenue of the Gas Department, then in six years time the whole cost of £3,000 would.be wiped out and there would be no further charge for interest or sinking funds. Should the Council decide to adopt the scheme this was the course he would recommend, and it would practically mean writing down the value of the Bannister Street plant by £3,000, at the rgte of £SOO per annum. The erection of plant on the new site would take about three years to complete.

The present site in Bannister Street, with the exception of the narrow strip occupied by the gasholders would then be available for sale, or such other purposes as the Council might direct. In conclusion, the Manager pointed out the urgent necessity for additional carbonizing plant, by the winter of (1909) next year. The question of which site was to be utilised must of coursa be decided by the Council. It was obvious, howevei 1 , that the town of Masterton was increasing, that the Gas Department's business was also increasing at a greater ratio than the 15 per cent, allowed in this and previous reports. There was also the still more important fact to be faced, that labour costs, riot only in New Zealand, but practically all over the world, were a constantly increasing factor, therefore the policy that would tend to reduce the cost and simplify the handling, not only of the coal, but all the other material used in connection with the Council's Gas Department, was undoubcedly a wise one.

Iu answer to a question by the Mayor, the Manager stated that it was not intended to remove the present holders from the site in Bannister street, as that would he practically an impossibility. Councillors viewed the report with favour, and on the motion of Cr Elliott, it was unanimously adopted. On the motion of Cr Elliott, it was also resolved to take steps to acquire the necessary land, indicated in the report, on which to erect the carbonizing plant near the railway station.