TEE HISTORY OF COAL GAS IN WELLINGTON.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 95, 23 April 1898, Page 5

TEE HISTORY OF COAL GAS IN WELLINGTON.

+ Twenty-seven years ago last night the City of Wellington was lit with gas for the first time, aud oil as an illuminant for street, and in man\ instances business and residential purposes, took the proverbial " back seat." Although in the interval electricity has superseded gas in our streets, and also in some other respects, gas came to stay, and may fairly claim to hold its own in popularity as an illuminant, as an invaluable commodity for domestic purposes, and as a cheap and highly useful motor power for machinery. It is interesting, under the circumstances, to glance at the progress of the company which introduced gas to Wellington. Although the question of starting gasworks had been under consideration for some time prior to the inception of the present Wellington Gas Company, it was not until the year 1869 that definite steps were taken for their establishment. In December of that year the provisional directors of the company were appointed, and the works having been decided on their construction was pushed on so energetically that in less .than 18 months the plant had beeu ordered from England and erected in Courtenay-place, and gas was supplied to the city. When the installation was completed the produoing capacity of the works was equal oxx\y to a daily supply of 40,000 cubic feet. To-day the company's works are capable of turning out 600,000 cubic feet per day. Gas was supplied to 45 consumers on the first day; tho number of services on the books at the present time is 5000. The total length of mains first laid—and at that time, of course, largely in excess of requirements — was two and a-half miles. There are now in use 40 miles of mains, extending all over the city and half way to Islandßßar.}r. A single gasometer in those days sufficed for all requirements —now there are three ; and a modest staff controlled the works, which to-day supports a small army of men, to say nothing of the large number who find employment in the disposition of by-prod ucla—such as ooke, coal-tar, &c. — or the importance of the relation of gas production to the coal industry in the enormous quantities of coal which are consumed every year. Twenty-seven years ago the company's annual consumption of coal amounted to 250 or 300 tons. Last year 10,000 tons passed into the company's yard to be carbonised for the use of. the inhabitants of Wellington. This fact had a wider importance than at first appears, because it includes the raising of the coal to the pit's mouth and the transhipment to Wellington, and the expenditure in labour which all this entails keeps in constant circulation an amount of capital few people are aware of. Gas first cost the consumer 20s per 1000 feet, on which a rebate of 10 per cent, was allowed on prompt payment of accounts. Now consumers get their lighting at 6s 3d per 1000 feet, and further reductions are made to consumers of over 10,000 fept, while gas is supplied for motive power at 5s 5d per 1000 feet, and the obnoxious rent for the meter is a thing of the past. 1 The company's works to-day occupy three acres, and within the last year over £20,C00 has been spent on their improvement, while plans are now under consideration for a further extension, by the erection of a block of fine offices which will cover a big portion of the present frontage to Courtenay-place and Tory-street, and provide handsome accommodation for the exhibition of gas lighting and heating appliances aud for its office staff. The scheme includes the construction of show rooms with provision for giving public exhibitions of cooking by means of gas—exhibitions which the classes now being established in connection with our public schools will, in all probabilit}-, be invited to attend for instruction purposes. Then, again, as to the future, it is understood that as soon as arrangements can be made the gas mains are to be extended to the suburbs of Brooklyn, Island Bay, and Kilbirnie, and the lighting of the township of Petone is also under consideration. While the company in its ramifications has had regard to its own interests, it may fairly be said tbat its aim has been in the direction of meeting the public demands as well as making dividends for its shareholders.