OUR GASWORKS

Evening Star, Issue 14035, 16 April 1909, Page 2

OUR GASWORKS

CR WALKER'S EULOGY. Or Walker (chairman of the Gns Committee), a candidate for mayoral honors, in Ids address at the Howe Street Hall last evening, said that tlie gas department was one which he had been most closely connected with, having served on that Committee for six years, and for the last fouryears acted as chairman of the Committee. .During the last two years most important ivorks and extensions had been carried out, and these works were at present practically completed. The cost of the works was estimated by the consulting engineer at £55.000, of which a loan was floated of £50,000, the balance to be taken out of revenue. It spoke volumes for those who had been entrusted with the carrying out of the works that they had been finished in a- liighly creditable and efficient manner, and within the estimates. During the Jast two years the Gas Committee hatf had to face most serious allegations as to the stability of the works by a small section of the Council, and on full inquiry into these .matters there was found nothing to support the complaints. It was stated bv his opponent that the foundations of the re-.tort-house woidd sink, and the structure of ] brickwork would crack longitudinally, and thus cause the walls to be out of plumb; and | what was the result to-day? The. walls j stood as straight as when erected twelve months ago, there not being the slightest fracture in the whole length. There was a jiinali fissure showing in the brickwork on the front under one of the arches, which did not impair the stability to the slightest extent, and which, unless attention was specially directed to it, could not lie seen. Other complaints had been formulated. .siu.li a.s' the foundation of the gasholder, grouting under the holder, and others of a more or less serious character; and, like the rest, they had been referred to the consulting engineer, and without exception they had been proved to contain no serious i element, but such as would apply to anv ' large constructional work;. These com- I plaints had con.-idcra.bly hampered and j worried the .staff, and" statements made j which in themselves were most trivial were ' magnified to such an extent as to tend to j belittle their authority and create a feeling in the public mind difficult to explain! -The new system of meter readings was giving every- .satisfaction, as the following reSpert from the gas accountant woulcf explain:—" The .sum of £547 was collected ...by the inspectors, w ho tell me they fully -expect this amount to be very considerably, 1 increased this month. This'goes to show' ■ithat the public appreciate the change of -system. To illustrate the savins* of. labor ■'.brought about by this change. I may in.form you that the outside collections for '■last month represented 2,510 receipts, ..which under the old system would have sheen written by the inside staff at the ■counter. Through, the introduction of /carbon copies of the inspection books we are also saved the. labor of making out o\cr 6.C00 gas accounts per month? By these two items alone there is a very considerable saving of time." This, he felt certain, was much appreciated bv the general public, and would lead to a great reduction in the expenses of v the office department, a big saving to the ratepayers, and a much better system of checking'and rinding out complaints. There were some who could not see eye to eye with them in ■that respect, but the initiation of'a newscheme had always some detractors who were anxious to see the worst side. During ; this year they had reduced the price of gas >to a, uniform rate of 5s per I,oooft. and •were now in line with the other cities in .the Dominion. This would do away with the two meters in one house, and prove a.big saving to the department. The work in connection with this department had • been very onerous, and required a sreat •■ deal of attention, and he felt very proud j that the finished result was satisfactory in •every respect and a credit to those in i charge. Mr English, as consulting engineer, and Mr Hungerford, as gas manager, had carried out their duties in an eminently satisfactory manner, and the Gas Committee and Council had loyally sup;ported him throughout the whole 'of his term of office. This winter the whole of ;the works would be in active operation, and he trusted a long and prosperous life would be in front of them, and, as in the past, they would prove one of the Citv's most valuable assets, so that in the" future better results would follow.