Urgent Action On Lyttelton Gas Supply

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28414, 22 October 1957, Page 14

Urgent Action On Lyttelton Gas Supply

Complaints of frequent failures of the Lyttelton gas supply were fully aired at the meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council last evening, and the council decided to obtain expert advice immediately, to obtain temporary outside labour, and to purchase the necessary working equipment. In moving that the monthly report on the gas department be received and adopted. Cr. F. Barrett, chairman of the gasworks committee, said that when the supply failed last week, the committee had called in Mr R. Burgess, manager of the Rangiora gasworks, for advice. Mr Burgess found one of the mains was blocked. The blockage was cleared and there was an improvement for a day or two, when there wa sanothcr blockage. To get at the blockage, it was necessary to pump water out of one of the holders. There was no pump available and one had to be borrowed from the Lyttelton Harbour Board. When the gas manager (Mr H. Turnbull) decided to go into the sump it was found that there was no gasmask, and a gasmask had to be hired from Christchurch. The installation, said Cr. Barrett, had been in for 80 years and no plans of the mains could be found. Mr Burgess had reported that the present plant could be put in order. Mr Turrall. who had put in long hours trying to maintain the supply, would have to have some assistance.

He had been told by a commercial gas consumer that a councillor had said that the gasworks were to be closed down, said the Mayor (Mr F. G. Briggs). Four other citizens had also told him the same thing. “How can we have the confidence of the staff if this sort of talk goes on?" ho asked. The gasworks had been declared essential and could not be closed.

Threats from Housewives Housewives had made numerous complaints to him. said Cr. A. M. Miller. “They have come to my house and shown me meals halfcooked.” he said. “Some of them threatened to come along to the council meeting with their frypans and ‘bash the councillors on the heads with them’ if something was not done.”

Cr. W. Morris said he endorsed all Cr. Miller had said. The trouble had been going on for months They would have to get the plant working properly. They should obtain a report from a previous manager, Mr A. Bungate, of Blenheim.

The Mayor: Have we all got tn go without meals until we get a report?

Mr Bungate could probably make an immediate inspection, said Cr. Morris.

His telephone had ‘run hot’ on Sunday, said Cr. R. E. Cairns, and the remarks of some of the callers were most insulting. He was asked what the council intended to do about the gas. Had the council considered asking the Christchurch Gas Company to supply Lyttelton, he asked.

He was sure that good expert advice could be obtained from the Christchurch Gas Company, said Cr. A. R. Champion. It was unthinkable that householders should be compelled to cook over open fires in their backyards. Equipment Deficiencies

Mr Turrall said when he took over the position in June he found the mains had not been cleaned for several years. There were few tools but he expected to have the present blockage cleared today. Any equipment necessary for the efficient working of the plant must be procured at once, said the Mayor. Action must be taken to get the works running properly. “I am looking forward to have once more a decent hot meal,” he said.

A resolution was moved by Cr. Morris that the council obtain expert advice on the gas works immediately. that outside labour be obtained, and that any necessary working equipment be purchased. The resolution, seconded by Cr. Miller, was carried.