THE CITY GASWORKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 86, 12 April 1902, Page 2

THE CITY GASWORKS

THE NAPHTHALINE DIFFICULTY RE POET FROM THE BLENHEfM ENGINEER.

Mr James Muir, of Blenheim, who I lately made an inspection of the Nelson gasworks, with the view |to making an endeavour to reipedy the naphthaline difficulty, has submitted an exhaustive report on the subjec. lo the City Council. The report, which was read at the Council meeting last night, i. by no means complimentary to tbe gasworks, and a r.-um. of Mr Muir's observations will be of interest. Mr Muir, in his opening remarks, said, " I may at once state that the construction of your works ia bad, the whole plant having a tendency towards generating naphthaline; in fact, from the retorts of the ga. holders the plant is one series of indiscriminate contractions and expansions, which leads to variations in temperature of the gas passing through the mains, the natural consilience being the gonoratingof naphthaline. To enable Councillors to thoroughly understand the position I propose giving you a description of the worki as I found I hem, and what I consider uecessary to be «done to remedy the evil. Should Lhe-e suggestions be carried out as nearly as possible, I frel confident that I ran successfully, deal with Ihe nuisance," Mr Muir then ieforred in detail to matters connected with the construction of the retort house, tbe foul maiu, and other portions of tbe works. After his remarks under ttiese head?, which could scarcely be followed in bare print by the general readar. M/ Muir added : " By this description the Council must see the necessity ot reconstructing part of the works, and to enable you to do so I forward a Specification of what I consider should be at once attended to." The specification appended specified for replacing ihe present-hy-draulic main with one of 1 rger capacity . to raise and otherwise alter the foul main ; and to t:ike out and replace all small pipes inside the works with pipes as hearly as possible of uniform size from outlet of hydraulic main to inlet of ■ gae holder. Some general works, which Mr Muir considers should be kept steadily in view with the object of renewal as opportunity offers, were also enumerated, and he remarked In conclusion, " I have instructed your Mr Hart how to proceed after the alterations to hydraulic and foul mains have been completed, and fe&T confident that the question of naphthaline will be succesbfully dealt with. I will be pleased to answer any questions or supply any further information that Councillors may require t enable them to grasp the situation " Cr Piper sa.d it seemed that Mr Muir, who at first said that what he proposed would not cost much, now wished to put the Council to a tremendous expense, and he had never taken the trouble to inquire whether what he suggested had been previously recommended. He spoke of a larger hydraulic main, and this very thing was provided for in the additions to tho works already ordered, The Mayor said Mr Muir took .great care in his inspection ofthe works, and he founi that there was a great variation in the size of the pipes. He had intended to obtain Mr M air's opinion of the new work contemplated, but time did not permit. Cr Harley : The report recommends pulling the whole works to pieces, Thafa what it means. Cr Hunter suggested that Mr Muir's recommendations should he compared with the plan of the proposed new works. The M.yor remarked that Mr Muir's charge for the report— £6 6s - was very moderate, Cr Piper : It is a wasto of money. At the request of Cr Hunter the Town Clerk read the resolution passed at the meeting of the Council on February 28th, on the motion of Cr Piper, seconded by Cr Fairey, v %., that the T>wn Clerk wire to Mr Muir, him lo report., and to state what information he required : and tbat hie reply be submitted to the Gas and ".Vater Committee. The reading of thi. resolution was greeted with laughter. A further reading from the miuutes showed, however, that at the next meeting Cr Piper nioved that Mr Muir be allowed to withdraw his offer (as requested), but was outvoted, an amendment that Mr Muir be asked to c .me to Nelson being carried. Cr Fairey said it seemed that when the Council g t a report fr.>m an expe t on any question it was not inclined to act upon it. Cr Fathers, who visited the Gasworks whilst Mr Muir w_.a thoro. said that the later remarked th it the works were all upside down and required remodelling, Cr Piper: That- what Mr Barratt said ! " It's all upside down ! " \ Cr Webley strongly deprecated CrPiper's action in endeavouring to hold Mr Muir HP to ridicule.

The lSJayor said that Mr Muir deserved the thanks of the Council, as every word of the report could be substantiated, Mr Muir had told him that they were raally manufacturing naphthaline, and that it could not bo otherwise. When such matters were pointed out to the Council, the information Bhonl i be appreciated Mr Muir said he was surprised that Mr Hart, tbe gasworks foreman, was able in the circumstances, to manufacture sufficient gas for the city u Cl ',./v ke '. st , en considered tbat action should be deferred until the appointment of a City Surveyor. Cr Fairey said that Muir's report appeared to imply that he knew the origin of naphthaline, but saoh could not be the case, as the Institute of English Uas Engineers recontly sitting in London £? not h . u * ° rthe ori S' n Mr Mufr's report was roferrod to the Gasworks Con: mitlee. Cr Piper proved thab a copy of the report be forwarded to IVfr Jicfeell, the late City Surveyor Tbe ruction was not seconded, but it was pointed out by Cr Harley that the gasworks were constructed lone before Mr J.ckeH'B time. It was resolved to thank Mr Muir for his report, The discussion then closed, I