USE OF DOMINION COAL FOR GAS MANUFACTURE

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7377, 10 November 1930, Page 2

USE OF DOMINION COAL FOR GAS MANUFACTURE

Wanganui Prefers Newcastle N.Z. PRODUCT -WOULD INVOLVE EXTRA £30,000 The Wanganui City Council has rei iterated its decision to continue using Newcastle coal for the manufacture of gas, the understanding being that ,as much of the New Zealand product as possible, consistent with economy, be employed with it.

The matter was further discussed at the council meeting recently, states tho Chronicle, when tho following letter from tho Minister of Mines (the Hon. A. J. Murdoch: was read : “With regard to the report of your gas engineer, I am given to understand that tho figures used by him in his report to tho Council aro based upon the price of Now Zealand coal at 42s 6d per ton, which price is not paid for State coal. The prices charged your Council for Liverpool coal havo been 31s lid per ton for Liverpool small and 39s 9d per ton for Liverpool unscreened. In view of these prices it is submitted that tho results based upon a price of 42s 6d per ton for New Zealand coal are worthless. From April .1920, to July 9 last, your council’s gasworks were supplied with 23:9 tons llcwt 2 qrs of Liverpool small and Liverpool unscrceencd, the average price therefore being 36s 4d per ton. “I am advised that from information which has been suppled to the Department by other gasworks the yield of coke from State coal is larger than the yield from Newcastle coal, although that coal may give a larger yield of tar. It is understood that the Palmerston North City Council has been using practically all New Zealand coal for its vertical retorts and with satisfactory results financially. “It is apparent from 'a statement which was published in the Manawtu newspapers, wherein the manager of t c Palmerston North gasworks reviewed the operations for tho year ended March 31, 1930, that an economical improvement of £2794 was effected, and comment was made in that statement that this was more remarkable in that indirectly the Australian coal strike, wine i had then been in progress for over 1months, was to a large extent tho cause of this improvement; that in past years it was considered quite 'good results to uso 20 per cent New Zealand coal, and that this year approximately 72 per cent, had been used, and for a good part of the year the works may have been using 100 per cent. New Zealand coal, also that the plant had not been damaged in any way in effecting this alteration. The statement further showed that the gas made during the year showed an increase of 5 per cent. “From figures which havo been supplied by your gas engineer, a mixture of IS.SS per cent. New Zealand coal and 81.15 per cent. coa yielded G.s4cwt of coke per ton of coal used and 17 5-19 gallons of tar per ton of coal used. “At the Palmerston Aorth gaswoihs where 28 per cent, of Newcastle coal was mixed with 72 per cent, ot New Zealand coals, including 10 per cen Waikato slack, 7.3ewt of coke per ton of coal used was obtained ,and the tar yield was about tho same as that obtained hitherto. “I am informed that at the Wellington gasworks tho coke production per ton of coal is approximately L.cwt. from both New Zealand and Newcastle coals, and the production of tar per ton of New Zealand coal is 1- gallon., and per ton of Newcastle coal is 14 gal- “ The above information is submitted for the consideration of your Counci, and Gas Committee. Committee’s Recommendation. The Gas Committee recommended : Regarding Mines Department offer to supply Liverpool screened coal at 44s 5d per ton.—The Committee reports having gone carefully into the matter of the greater use of New Zealand coal at the gasworks, and it adheres to its previous recommendation, but it wishes to assure the Council that the gas engineer is using the utmost amount of New Zealand coal consistent with tho capacity of the existing plant.

“It is very unfair that a letter of this class should emanate from the Minister of Mines,’’ said Cr. G. Darbyshire, moving tho adoption of tlic recommendation. “It is most unfair to quote the Palmerston North gasworks on a par with Wanganui. Taking that, letter at its lace value,’’ ho continued, “it would appear that Wanganui had not been doing the right thing in using Newcastle coal. Tho gas manager and I have had an opportunity of studying the best gasworks, and it is hard to reconcile the position of Palmerston North. Possibly Palmerston did not take into account the additional plant they had. The production of gas per ton is another important point. I said on a previous occasion that we got at least 1000 cubic feet more gas per ton from Newcastle coal'than New Zealnd. If I had said 4000 feet I would have been nearer the marks. At (is 8d per .1000 cubic feet wo obtain 26s 8d additional value for the gas produced. The Palmerston North works is not on a par with ours.’’ Tho speaker pointed out further that Wanganui could land Newcastle coal at 13s 6d a ton cheaper in freight than Palmerston. To cope with New Zealand coal at Wanganui would involve £30,000 worth of additional plant. He quoted Wellington as having to use 80 retorts for New Zealand coal as against 30 for Newcastle.

“Gan anyone reasonably suggest,” Cr.’ Darbyshiro asked, “when tho price is about the same, that it is more economical to use 80 retorts for New Zealand coal when 30 would do for Newcastle ?”

The recommendation of the Gas Committee to adhere to Newcastle coal was adopted.