MASTERTON GASWORKS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9546, 19 July 1909, Page 3

MASTERTON GASWORKS.

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report of the Manager of the Masterton Gasworks, to be submitted to the meeting of the Borough Council to- | morrow evening:— i I have the honour to submit hereI with the balance sheet and report on the working of the Municipal Gas Department, for the twelve months ending March 31st, :i9()y:— The output of gas for the period under review was 25,311,800 cumc feet, as against 21,951,100 cubic feet for the previous year-the increase being 3,360,700 cubic feet, or an average rate of 15.300 per j cent.

Carbonizing Statement.—Coal in store 31st March, 1908, 325 tons; received during 12 months, 2,243 tons 3cvvt 2qr; sold, 195 tons 9 cwt 2qr; carbonized, 2,272 tons 14 cwt; coal in store 31st March, 1909, 100 tons. Gas made: 25,311,800 cubic feet made per ton, 11,135 cubic feet. Gas accounted for 23,675,500 cubic feet. Unaccounted for 1,636,300 cubic feet, equal to 6.64 per cent. Total cash revenue, £8.607 14s 6d. Revenue from gas shows an increase ci £444 7s 2d; revenue from residuals a decrease of £IBB 6s 4d; revenue from coal sold, a decrease of £l6B 6s 4d. The increase in the revenue for gas is satisfactory in view of the fact that the reduction in the price of gas made at the latter end of 1907 represents a loss of £326 15s 3d. The decrease in receipts from residual and coal is partly on account of the extremely mild winter so far experienced, and to the iact that practically the whole of the output of tar was sold to the Works Department at 4d per gallon.. The gross profit on manufacturing account, as will be seen by the balance-sheet submitted herewith, amounts to £2,066 13s sd, to which must be added profit made on sale of fittings, including labour expenses, etc., of £69 6s 9d. Interest and sinking fund absorbs £1,193 16s Bd. Street lightingactual labour and material cost £3B 19s more than was received. Amount expended on capital account from revenue £789 13s i]d. Written tor depreciation (three years) of cost of fixing free cookers £240 18s 2d, leaving a credit balance in the Bank of £786 19s fid. The manufacturing plant has been kept in a fair state of repair, but in view of the near completion of the new works on the railway site, only absolutely necessary repairs and renewals have been carried out. The three gas holders have been painted and are all in first-class order. Distribution. — New mains have been laid during the twelve months as follows: Hogg Crescent, Johnston Street, Makora Road, Hope Street, Bentley Street, Dixon, Street South, Michael Street, Pownall Street, Yates' Estate, Jeans' Estate, Essex Street Exten- i sion, George Street, South Road, J Devon Street. A 2 inch main in Opaki , Road has beer, replaced with a 4-inch ; from Te Ore Ore Road to Third Street. J The total lengths of new mains laid i Being about 3& miles. One hundred | and seven new services have been j

laid. One hundred and eieven new customers connected. The total meters now in use beuig 971 up to 31st March, 1909, as comnared with 870 on 31st March. 1908, and 734 on 31st March, 1907. I do not anticipate ' the rats ot increase that has been 1 held for the last thres years will [ continue, though the business will ! naturally expand. Local conditions do not at present favour the conI tinuance of an abnormal increase. f The output of gas for the year ending ' 31at March, 1905, was 12,000,000 odd, last year 25,911,300 cubic feet, an increase of about 100 per cent, in four years. Gas Fitii:;gs and Cookers Department.—ln accordance with the recommendation in my report to the Council, dated May, 1906, I was empowered to reorganise and revise this branch of the business, and a combined office and showroom was installed. This has now been in existence just two years, the showroom being opened in July, 1907. Previous to that a small business was conducted in the building that is used as the works office for the information of the Commitee. I beg to state that we have now. 244 cooker accounts 4ftß customers who use boiling rings, grillers, or gas fires. The Depart ment has fitted 150 buildings, supplied 220 cookers, and numerous grillers and boiling rings, besides attending to the other requirements of consumers. Business has been run at a profit, though not an abnormal one—the main object being to pay expenses, and to encourage the adoption of all the varied appliances by which the use of gas can be popularised, and thereby increasing the sale of gas. I venture to state, gentlemen, that this object has been successfully attained. 'lhe stocks are good and saleable. The stock of ga3 fittings is up-to-date in character, the tittirgs and burners being of the latest patterns and type, with a business that has only been in existence for a few years, it is a manifest impossibility to have an old or out-of-date stock. The one drawback is the cramped space available in the showroom. The business has outgrown the limited office and showroom capacity now available, and I wish to impress on the Committee iha necessity for a

more commodious showroom and additional office accommodation. the stock cannot be shown to an advantage under existing conditions; in fact, much of it cannot be shown at all. I trust this matter will receive the early consideration of the Committee. Price of Gas.—ln Novem-

ber, 1907, the price of gas was reduced to 10s per 1,000 feet, with a discount of 2s lid per 1,000 for lighting gas, 4s 2d per 1,000 for cookers,

4s 7d per 1,000 for power purposes. There is an intermediate discount of

3s 4d per 1,000 allowed where boiling rings, grillers, and gas fires are I used. In view of the fact that during | the coming financial year, the gas 1 undertaking will have to find the interest and sinking fund charges for the amount of £1,440, owing to the loan expenditure on the new works account, 1 cannot recommend any further reduction in the price of gas, until such time as the new v/( rks plant is in full working order, and the saving the manufacturing cost thereby effected are available for the payment of the additional interest charges. Apart from the fact that the cost of removing the works to the new site, eatimnted at £5,000, was to be partly paid out of the revenue. Vide my renort dated the 13th January, 1903, recommendations

contained therein being approved of and adopted by the full Council. This matter I propose to deal with in a special report to be submitted to the next meeting of the Gas CommitI tee, on the Progress and Condition of I the New Works. In submitting the I accompanying balance sheets, I woukl like to make a suggestion that it would probably be more satisfactory to the Council and public if the accounts and stock sheets were verified by some reputable firm of accountants outside the Borough office connected with the Gas Department. In conclusion, I wish to tender my thanks and appreciation to the chair- ( man and members of the Gas Committee for the loyal support I have at all times received from them in tha developing of the gas works undertaking during the last twelve months. I also wish to express my sincere thanks to the whole of the gas works staff for the willing cooperation and loyal services that each member has given to myself and the Borough. Jl feel satisfied that every one has worked well and intelligently with the one aim in view of doing their best to further the expansion of the Municipal Gas Work?.