CITY GASWORKS

Evening Star, Issue 19078, 22 October 1925, Page 13

CITY GASWORKS

PROPOSAL FOR MERKISIHG £150,030 LOAN SUGGESTED The proposal for enlarging and modernising the carbonising and other .plant at the gasworks and providing for the wider distribution of gas at an adequate pressure to ail portions of the city and suburbs was before the City Council last night, when a clause in the gas section of the Trading Committoe’s report dealing with the matter was submitted by the chairman of the committee (Cr Scott). The report stated that both the late gas engineer (Mr John Huugerford) and tho present engineer (Mi - Couper) had given a groat deal of consideration to the question, and as the result of their investigations the committee was now able to put forward concrete proposals. Those consisted, briefly, of: (a) The installation of a modern carbonising plant ou the “vertical” system, having a capacity of 1J million cubic feet per day, plus necessary foundations therefor, £62,532; (b) a new coal-hand-ling plant complete with railway wagon tipfer, grabs, and telpherage system, £10,000; (c) a plant for dehydrating tar, £2,000; (d) a new gasholder to replace No. 1 holder, £15,000; (e) now stores and workshops. £10,000; (f) a new system of hign-pressure mains throughout the city to feed into the low-pres&nre system, say £20,000; (g) main extensions, £20,000; totalling £139,512; plus 10 per cent, for contingencies, £13,953; mailing a grand total of, Sray, £153,485. Details respecting each of these items are set forth in reports by Messrs Hungerford and Couper, and preliminary plans of tho foundations were being handed to the city engineer for his comment. The committee recommended that the proposals be approved and that the committee bo empowered to take the necessary steps for obtaining tenders for the whole of tho proposed now plant. Cr Scott, in moving the adoption of the clause, said that the reports of tho late engineer and the present engineer showed that the proposed reconstruction was necessary. It was known that they were approaching the limit of their output, especially in the winter months, and the committee was anxious that arrangements should be made for the taking of a poll at an early date on the question of a loan for the purpose of carrying out the new work. Tho committee had been told that it would take two years at least from the letting of the contract before the work was completed. It was probable that the whole. of the £150,000 would not bo used, and a good deal of that which would bo used would not he needed for four or five years. The old gasholder had been purchased forty or fifty years ago, and was ovon then second-hand, and tho engineer considered that it would bo unwise to tamper with it.

Cr Hayward seconded the adoption of tho report. On the increased sales alone the council would be justified in undertaking the expenditure. Cr Wilson also supported the motion, it was a good proposition, which would not affect the rates. The Deputy-mayor said the proposal was a sound one financially. The position of the gas department was unique. On a capita! of £147,000 there was a revenue of £90,000. But more important still, there was a sinking fund of £14,000 and a renewal fund of £73,000. Another bright spot was that there would bo a saving of £7,000 in the working cost. He thought it would bo a wise thing if the council and the ratepayers ratified the proposal. Cr MacManus said that, besides providing the cheapest, gas in the Southern Hemisphere, the department was making a great profit for tho_ city. Ho wondered, however, if the existing system could bo extended instead of being scrapped. With that idea he moved as an amendment—“ That the clause be referred back to the committee with a view to obtaining from the engineer particulars as to tho cost of the extension of the existing system in order to meet future requirements.” Cr Begg seconded the amendment. Some time ago, he pointed out, there was a proposal to shift tho gasworks. The district was a residential one, and people would be happy to seo the works moved. Their present plant had proved to be an excellent one, and it might be advisable to extend it. _ Then there was the increased competition of the E.P. and L. department—a matter which should bo taken into serious consideration. He was of opinion that gas was still superior and more economical for heating, but improvement might bo made in electrical heaters which would make them preferable. Cr Shaddock supported the proposal of the Gas and Finance Committees. He suggested, however, that the words “on the vertical system ” he deleted from the following clause'“ The installation of a modern carbonising) plant on tho ‘ vortical ’ system, having a capacity of II million cubic feet per day, plus necessary foundations therefor, £62,532.” A gentleman whoso standing in matters of gas engineering was highly thought of in Australia had said -that horizontal retorts were not dead yot. lii up-Lo-dato misworks recently erected in England horizontal retorts were being installed. He would also like to point out that the choice of Now Zealand coals for use in vertical retorts would be restricted. Tho majority of New Zealand coals swelled very much in the process. His suggestion to delete the words “ on tho vertical system ” would leave the committee with a free hand on the matter. The shifting of the works would ho thought, prohibitive in regard to tne cost._ All the mains would have to be shifted. He thought it was desirable that the gas department should be in competition with tho E.P. and L. department —there was room for both. The result of the competition would bo that the i people would get hotter _ Ho ! had made an experiment this winter jin regard to heating a room. He tried I both gas and electricity, and had found ' the former was more efficacious and i cheaper. Tho present plant had seen ' a great deal of service, and sooner or | later would have to be scrapped in any case.

Cr Scott said he had no objection to tho words being) deleted as suggested by Cr Shaddock. Cr MacMarms, with the concurrence of Cr Begg, withdrew his amendment. The words “on the vertical system ” were deleted. Cr Scott said it was hoped to use the old system in conjunction with the new one "until the most had been got out of them. There were at present thirteen sets of retorts, each retort producing 120,000 ft -of pas. The vortical retorts occupied much less space than the horizontal retorts. The matter was one of urgency. The committee was of opinion that it would not he wise to shift the works, owing to tho very high cost. . The recommendations or the committee, with the alterations agreed upon, adopted. Cr'Scott then moved that the town clerk ho instructed to take immediate steps to submit the proposal for a loan for the amounted stated to the ratepayers. Or Hayward seconded the motion, which was carried.