THE GASWORKS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 245, 15 October 1920, Page 4

THE GASWORKS.

AN ANXIOUS TIME

HE-SOLUTIONS OF BOROUGH

COUNCIL

'I lie following communication from Mr ' Atkinson, the • manager of the gasworks, who wrote it on the 7th. iiist., was attached to the report presented by the Gas Committee to the Borough' Council last night:—

"It is proving an anxious time a» regards coal supplies. At present we have about 10 days' coal in stock of only fair gas-ranking properties, but--1 am promised' full stocks of coal in. the near future. The StatQ mines advise an advance in price of. 7s; 64 per ton. -This, will mean.an .increase in the manufacturing cost of gas of seven pence per 1000 cubic feet, and if another rise occur.?, we- will.again have to consider th<y adjustment of the sellmg price of gas. . ■ '"When in Auckland I placed an order with Messrs John Burns and Co., Ltd., for 324 chains of cast-iron mains at ji, cose- of approximately £3563, landed in Blenheim. . Of thl» quantity about a milo will be available for extension?. To find the money to pay for these, mains, it will be necessary to realise on the £5360 invested in war bonds.

"As our station meter is passing double ifcs; rated capacity, it- is necessary that it be replaced. A new meter would cost not less than £450. I have under offer a second-hand meter at £55; it may be necessary to put a. new drum in this at a. cost of £100. I recommend that the meter be purch.ised."

'The following recommendations, from the Gas Committee were adopts. cd:—That the Gns Clerk's salary be at the- rate of £28-5 per annum as. from the Ist. August, 1920; that Mr Saunders be paid at the rate of 14a per day from date, and that the usual holidays be allowed; that the borough treasurer interview the manager of, tho Union Bank of Australia, as'to the^ best means of financing the £'ZQGO required for gas mains, and tha £10,OOC loan for the gas. holder, and re-. j.ort to the Finance Committee; that tjie increase in the stokers' wages bemade retrospective to the 2nd ' Sep<-. tember, 1920; that the manager be. authorised to purchase a stations irioter, r.s recommended: that ae-. counts (£1222 los lid dealt with sinee> last meeting and £771 13s lid nowsubmitted) be referred to the Finance. Committee for payment: At the instance of the 0-rs Commit-, too, the Town Clerk rend the cable-, gram despatched some considerabie^ time ago to Messrs Onward!and'Co., London, accepting Messrs Walkers'" tender for the supply of ii gas holder. He also read a. eabiod" message received that day, intimating that the Council could expect the gas holder to> come to hand about- next -March.