GAS TO-NIGHT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 304, 23 December 1943, Page 6

GAS TO-NIGHT

FOR EVENING MEAL EXPLOSION WARNING Gas will be available for cooking purposes only between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to-day. This announcement was made this afternoon by the manager of the Auckland Gas Co., Mr. R. Worley. He said a request was being made to the public to refrain from using gas for purposes other than cooking as it would seriously affect the position. Mr. Worley issued a warning that the public should not turn on their meter taps before 5 o'clock and then only in accordance with the instructions issued yesterday. "This is most important," he said. "The company will not be responsible for explosions or damage if people turn on their meters before the hour named. "Between now and 5 o'clock all the gas in the mains—it may be an inferior mixture —has to be forced out before the public can use their cooking appliances with safety, and if people 'butt in' with a view to earlier use of gas they will do so at their own risk." To-nioiTow Morning Mr. Worley explained that the pressure would only be sufficient for cooking for three hours. After 8 o'clock it would be greatly reduced and there would not be sufficient gas in the mains for cooking purposes until 7 a.m. to-morrow. "We specially request the public not to attempt to use gas after 8 p.m. to-day." said Mr. Worley. He expressed the hope that there would be a continuous supply for cooking from to-morrow morning onwards. "I sincerely hope at the present stage that there will be a full supply available for all purposes from Christmas Day," Mr. Worley concluded. He advised industrial concerns to make direct contact with the company to-morrow to ascertain the position in respect to the restarting of factories that relied on gas for their production. Freeman's Bay Holders At 9 o'clock this morning the gas holders at Freeman's Bay delighted the gaze of housewives bent on early shopping. One holder appeared to be nearly half full, and another had risen fully a fourth of the distance up the framework. To the casual observer it seemed there was more gas in hand than had been the case for some time. When the manager of the company' Mr. Worley, was asked for an explanation he said that the reason for the holders containing so much gas was that they had been cut off from the mains. Before it was safe to supply gas to the public the mains had to be thoroughly cleared of the mixture remaining in them before they were again connected with the holders.