PETONE-HUTT GAS BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 36, 11 August 1927, Page 16

PETONE-HUTT GAS BOARD

NEW MAIN LAID

The monthly meeting of the Petonrand Lower Hutt Gas Lighting Board was held on Tuesday. Present: Mi "W. G. Lodder (chairman), and Messrs. AY. G. MerSrum, C. P. Broekelbank, S. Clendon, V. Jaeobson, and W..T. Strand

The Lower Hutt Civic Association advised that it had asked Mr. T. M. Wilfora, M.P., to have certain alterations made in the local Gas Bill now before Parliament, the chief object of which was that the board would be required to take a loan poll before entering into an agreement with the Wellington Gas Company

The board's solicitors pointed out that the board had already pledged itself to take a poll.

The board decided, on the motion of Mr. Strand, to hold a public meeting in each borough before taking the poll, and that the members of the board should meet the Civic Association if desired.

The manager (Mr. H. Appleyard) produced charts showing how the gas pressure had increased in Lower Hutt owing to the linking up of a new 8-iuch main round Woburn road.

The Mayor reported that the board would, in about six months, come under the Board of Trade regulations which required all meters to be tested by a Government Inspector.

The board was now employing about forty men under its unemployment relief scheme.

In his monthly report, the manager (Mr. H. Appleyard) stated that during the month 562£ tons of coal had been carbonised and 7,930,700 cubic feet of gag manufactured, being an average make of 14,099 cubic feet per ton. The increase in manufacture over that of July, 1926, was 688,300 cubic feet. During the month about 430 tons of Newcastle coal had been purchased and 230 tons of State coal; 135 tons of coke, 4093 gallons of tar, and 53 loads of ashes had been sold. Fifty-two chains of 8-inch east iron mains had been laid in Woburn road and Ludlam crescent, and 17 chains of 3-inch and 4-inch pipes had also been put down. The main-laying operations had been considerably hampered by bad weather.

On 20th July, 38 men were started on unemployment relief work, and the number could be increased to 50 as more men applied. During the month 28 new services, 50 cookers, 10 caliphonts; and 6 gas fires had been installed.