MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3005, 30 September 1908, Page 7

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

GAS MANAGER'S REPORT.

At a meeting of the Gas and Library Committee held on Monday, September 28th, at which there were preset t —Crs Morris (chairman), Elliott, Ewington, and Fragnell. The mcnti.ly report of the Gas Manager in the following terms was submitted and received:—The gaa made for the month of August shows an increase of 13.86 per cent., and gas sold per meter an increase of 18. 52 per cent on the corresponding month of last year: The average iafe of increase for the current year bting 20.25 per cent.; gas manufactured, 22.07 per cent. During the month 21 new services were connected and 17 rew meters fixed. Since my last report a three-inch C.I. main has been laid from Cornwall Street along Pownall Street up Tararua Street, a total distance of 21 chains. A shoit extension about 12 chains of 2in W.I. main in Jean Street will be completed to-day. Re the supply of gas to Lansdor. . Constant complaints are received regarding defective pressure and warn;" of sufficient gas in the north end of this suburb. I append a few figures showing the extent that business is developing in that district:—ln April, 1906. there were 45 consumers, the total consumption for the year ending April, 1907, being 614,300 c.f. For the year ending April, IUOB, the consumption was 1,260,2t0 c.f., an increase of over 100 per cent. For the first five months of the present year the consumption has been 814,-300 c.f., exactly 20,000 c.f. more than for the whole year ending Apri', 1907, and the consumers now number 70, as against 45. lam of the opinion that the 4m C.I. main now terminating at the intersection of tne Te Ore Ore Road should be continued along the.Opaki Road to Third Street; that the existing 2in W.I. main be lifted and replaced in Totara Street and connected to the 2in main in Titeki Street. It will not be long before other branch extensions will be required, and the foregoing would enable these to be carried out as necessary. Re gas main pipes—On the Bth inst. a cable I was received from Messrs Coward and Co., which read as follows: "Temple requests me to advise you that prices are in buyers' favour.. Cast iron pipes, Spigot and Faucet joints, .three-inch, £4 14s per ton; 4in. £4 10s per ton; 6in, £4 7s 6d per ton, free on board; 6in vertical cast, £4 16s per ton. To which a reply was sent—"Ship forty tons 3in, ten tons 4in., turned and bored joiita." Re new carbonising station—l submit herewith price for a 12in pipu condenser consisting of a battery of 12in C.I. pipes with tar box, saal pots, three 9in valves, inlet and outlet at connections, all complete and delivered free on board steamer. I would recommend that these be purchased for the best price that can be agreed upon. The manufacturing plant is in good order ' with the exception of the retorts, several of which are practically worn out, and if it is not possible to start the manufacture of gas at the new site before next winter, will have to be replaced very shortly. This is not desirable, as the money will be spent to more advantage at the new works. I would again remind the Committee that as stated in my report of a month since the delay in securing the title to site ia likely to prove an expensive matter, owing to the fact that necessary repairs and renewals to the presant plant which under ordinary circumstances would have been carried out, have not been attended to. It was resolved that thirty chi ins of 4in mains be laid in Lansdcw e and that twenty tons of cast iro.i I mains be cabled for, and that the ; Acting: Town Clerk inquire and re- j pOrt upon what is delaying the issue j of the Governor's proclamation vesting the proposed gasworks site in the borough. The Committee further recommend that the Invercargill Borough Council be offered £l5O for a condenser of the capacity of 50,000,000 cubic feet which they have for disposal.