PETONE-HUTT GAS BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 10 February 1926, Page 11

PETONE-HUTT GAS BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING

SPECIAL BEPOBT BY THE

MAYOB.

The monthly meeting of the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. W. G. Loddcr (chairman), W. T. Strand, S. Clendon, W. Meldrum, C. P. Brockelbank,'J. Piper, and A. Ander-

The General Motors, Limited, advised having purchased the land through which a 12-inch main was laid, and asking that this be removed. The secretary reported having referred the question to the board's solicitors, who had advised that the board had a right of access to the main, and also advised the board to give this information to General Motors, and state that the board would, in the event of the company continuing its building operations, apply for an injunction against the company. The secretary further reported that the Crown, who had sold the land to General Motors, h»d accepted responsibility for removing the main. The board decided to do the work of removing the main, the ooit to be borne by the Crown. Several of the board's employees working under an Arbitration Court award aaked for certain other concessions as were given to employees working under a private agreement. On behalf of these employees, Mr. "W. Taylor waited on the board, and stated that what was chiefly required was that three extra holidays be paid for. The board decided to inquire,,what Was the practice in other gas works in the , Wellington district. Messrs. Anderson, Clendon, and Meldrum expressed the opinion that the board should pay for the extra three days.

The Gas Works Manager, Mr. H. Appleyard, reported that 474 tons of coal had been carbonised, making 5,719,900 cubic feet of gas, or an average make of 12,060 feet per ton, and a decreased make of 248,000 cubic feet as for January, 1925, Eighty-nine tons of coke and 12,915 gallons of tar had been sold. There were 50 tons of coke in stock. During the month 38 cookers had been sold, 11 new services, and 63 chains of 8-irich main laid.

The following special report was made by'the Mayor:— "Defective Gas.—l shall be attending the Gas Conference on the date of the board's meeting. I wish, in this report, and in respect to the above, to express my regret at the Ntwo occasions during the month when air was drawn into the gas holders, causing much inconveniences to consumers. The first occurrence was in the early morning of 9th inst., some time before 5 o'clock, 'at which time one of the men on duty called me up and said he thought there was something wrong. When I got in the works, I saw immediately what was the trouble,vand took immediate steps to remedy same and improve the supply to the town. By 9 o'clock the supply to the Hutt was of normal quality, but it was getting towards lunch time before that to Petone consumers was put right. The cause of the trouble was due to over exhausting with the engine, causing the^oal in one of the hydraulic mains to become broken, thereby allowing air to be sucked up through the retorts and .mixing with the gas. The second occurrence, which happened on the night of the ISth ultimo between 8 and 10 o'clsjek, while I was away on leave, is somewhat more difficult of-explanation as I have only the information of the foreman to go upon, though I have not the slightest doubt as to its accuracy. The valve on the hydraulic main of the same setting as the previous trouble occurred, had been opened considerably more than was necessary for proper working, thereby breaking the seal and causing the same thing to happen as on the previous occasion. This valve is of the weir type, and is set to give a certain depth of seal of liquor in the hydraulic main, into which liquor the pipe from each retort dips, and through ■which the gas being made has to' pass. If the seal becomes too. heavy, the gas has more resistance in getting away, and will cause leakage round the doors of the retorts, and what I am sure happened is that one of the men, thinking he was doing right, had lowered the weir in the valve too,much, and when he realised what had happened, was afraid to admit it,.as the foreman questioned both men on duty, and they denied interfering with the valve. I also questioned them, but got no more satisfaction. I am confident in my mind, that this was the cause, as it is impossible for the valve to move itself. It was most unfortunate, and I am exceedingly sorry that it should have happened. I have given instructions that these valves must not be interfered with by anyone but the foreman, and I have also run a lead of pipe from the outlet of the purifier to the retort house and engine-room, where a flat flame burner will be fixed and these lights will be kept burning continuously. This will give an indication of any inequality in the gas almost immediately after it leaves the retort."