THE GASWORKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 30 October 1922, Page 7

THE GASWORKS

(Continued from Page 3.)

more than equal that of lighting at night, there will be little need of extension in this direction for many years. I may add that the gasholders and oilier plant and buildings at works appear in good order, and arc well and ijcanly kept.

DISTRIBUTION OF GAS Mains,—The main pipes leading to the town from the works are sizes 10 inch and 7 inch with 6in.. 4in., and 3in. taken off; also many small service pipes originally laid for one or two consumers. Gradually others have connected up and so exhausted their capacity to supply sufficient to maintain the demand for light, hence complaints have been rife. No pipe of less diameter than fin. should he laid to supply each house and the main pipe in the street should not he less than 3in. diameter. To lay a supply main of less than this diameter is to invite complaint of poor supply later on. This lack of_ proper sffiod pipe, added to the practice of throttling the pressure given by the gasholders at the works reducing same finches to 3 inches has been largely responsible for the dissatisfaction expressed hv the consumers. An inspection of the lighting in the town on the night of my arrival revealed very poor light and dirty and blind burners. AI the gasworks the gasholders were filled with good rich gas, equal to the highest standard in the Dominion, hut by a “Governing process it was prevented from reaching the burner with sufficient pressure to give a decent light. I may here add that incandescent burners require a fair pressure to produce a maximum, of light. On the night of the 23rd the pressure at the works was increased l>v 50 per rent, (from 3 inches fo 41- inches) with (lie result that an improvement m the lighting was noticeable. On Monday evening in company with the City Engineer arid the foreman of the gasworks, I

took records of the pressure at various points in the town, with the following results

Pressure p.rn. At Works ' 4 -sin _ At Council Chamber 2.9 m Lt) At Councillor Plum’s 2.0 m 7.30 At Mr Eight’s 2.8 m 7.45 At Mr Edmond’s , 2.2 in 8.0 At Councillor Edwards s o.Oin o.^U

The reduced pressure at the various points taken plainly shows that the reticulation requires attending to, (1) by the laying of larger pipes (2) by the connecting up of the various mains where dead ends*exists. This when earned out should improve the circulation of the gas through the pipes. All small service pipes with several consumers supplied from same, should be taken up, pipes of larger diameter laid, and where possible linked up with j/hcr mains m the neighbourhood, thus insuring complete circulation and an oven pressure

over the lower portion of the town. Where new services are required or relaid, galvanized pipe should he substituted for black iron. , Poor Lights, Ditty 1 1,,n ; ors ' lv a " (1 Broken Mantles.—l would strongly iecmnmend that an intelligent employee he sent around to consumers, to examine the supply, attend to the hmmeis and fix new mantles where required. An arrangement can be made with consumers to pay a small charge say cn. price, for this service. Several Humphrey Gas Arc Lamps should be piocured and sold to consumers, especially shops, at as near cost as lamps are in my experience the best lamps on the market, * nrl consumers, that, given g, ■ g ' mialitv "ood burners and lamps SSVoMam 11,n l.«t realt ... tbo burning of it.

NAPTHALENE, cause AND elimination

Napthalene trouble is laigcty caused by light charges in the retorts, over exhausting and lack of condensing power. With heavier charges, as SUg Se 1 to your Works Foreman, and condensing area tejal foul gas to slowly cool, the troubles should disappear or be so reduced as to ln> scarcely noticeable. Benzine vap ■- ed in the washer has proved a solvent U a preventative, care shomd be taken to see that the reknds aie charged at intervals covered oyoi the ciaht hour shifts, thus keeping the manufactured gas of , an wen quality. For clearing service pipes of a ' obstruc lion or napthalene, a smaU force pump charged with kerosene, will deal the latter, and when larger pipes are laid stoppages arc not likely to exist.

SLOT V. ORDINARY METERS The cost of a five light -slot meter « about 45 per cent, greater than a five light ordinary meter. Slot meters are used in the larger -towns where the population is of a floating dure ' 3 the risk of bad debts great Your population being more stable the necessity for slots is nob so evident. I know of one small company m the Dimimiou ming nothing but slots. When my company, some years ago, started on the campaign to push the u f°. ot slot meters were introduced m connection with same, some five hundred being put on and that the gas was charged at a higher rate to cover hire extra cost of stove and meter. These have gradually dwindled down to about half the number, the company have adopted a scheme of free stoves which has “caught on” so well that m a short while slot meters will, except m risky cases, cease to ho. Slot meters may, however, commend itself to your CO cil in dealing-with the use of gae cookers.

GAS FOR COOKING AND HEATING Your Council are now preparing to iustal a plant to supply electricity, which will in the course of a few years monopolise the lighting winch is now held by gas. Tins need not concern your Council, for there is a hold more important than lighting, n. the domestic uses of gas, the fringe ot which has only so far been touched by yom Council. , . •. , . . The use of gas for coo-iing and heating has developed in an extraordinary degree in the Dominion, and m your case if properly encouraged, it will on y be a matter of a short time when almost every house will have a gas cooker installed. It is so handy m the home for it not only relieves the housewife from the drudgery of cooking but makes cooking a pleasure and fiirthei reduces the necessity of employing help in the home to a minimum. •A cooking stove in a house is wox i several lighting consumers, amh what is belter, the user is well satisfied, toi they realise that the housework has been made easier, and full value received. In view of the loss of lighting when the electric plant is started, i would recommend that your Council go eavlv into the question of stocking gas cooking and heating stoves, and that you adopt cither of the following schemes:— . , (a) Provide and fix a gas cooker, free of charge, with any house I'ctpimg same, subject to a minimum of, 200 U cubic /«-.>(' of gas being consumed each month. AH consumers asang loss than the minimum of 2000 cubic foot to pay !/■ by way of rent per month. Or as an alternative; (b) That the Council fix a gas cookftr together with a 1/- in the slot meter in any house free of charge, setting the index of such meter to allow Tor an extra charge of 5d by way of interest mi the amount represented by both cooker,and p.p. meter. Of the two schemes I prefer (a).

Here in Napier and Hastings we have over four thousand stoves in use, of which number 2268 have been fixed under scheme (a) during the past nine years, an average of over 250 stoves per annum. Almost every house has a cooker and provision is made in houses being erected in Napier for a gas cooker to be installed. Stoves being used during the -daylight hours, involve but " little extra outlay so far as manufacturing plant is concerned, the same plant used to make gas for lighting at night being availaide for day consumption, thus utilising that which would be comparatively idle during the day were the cookers not in use. ADMINISTRATION Works Department:—! am of opinion that a valuable utility such as the gas undertaking, and the need for continual watchfulness of the- business generally, demands that a manager should be appointed to control same His duties should be entirely connected with manufacture and distribution. Whilst he must have a knowledge of gas manufacture generally, he must also be pos-..-m-cd' of sufficient business ability to sc!] S as. The selling of gas'is just 1 as important as tho manufacture, tliercfqic vrnir manager should be a man witn -anno business ability, and a fair amount of energy to push the use of gas for o!.mu/ and heating purposes and generally inspire confidence in other matters'in which the consumers need edu/■atino, in connection with gas. In times su-b V- these when business has to be sought, the personal touch stands for much. . Office Administration the impoitance of a Department with both cash ami credit of about £24,000 and outgoings of nearly the same amount points very clearly to the necessity of, having its own staff separate from the .remind staff of tho Council, while at I flip same lime under the* supervision ot the Town Clerk. The sales and purchases of materials, coal, coke, tar and other necessaries required m connection with the work, in fact -the undertaking, should be run almost as a separate institution. All accounts, meter reading etc. salaries, wages, and other charges should be dealt with by this department. I understand that by Government regulation, trading concerns such it s gas undertakings run by councils a e required to keep accounts by a double ciy' system, la this case there should i , ,'L mixing up with other departments. When this system is adopted, he position of the undertaking may be itonwed much earner and more correctly than at present. m. Coke and Tar Sales at mrtfir Vtz tf M °S is rales last year amounted to mamagernent residuals (coke and I return 50 per cent. of . cost ° f lionised In my opinion no sales xoi Should be made except through an office at the works (or town and no d liveries of any the yard mail without an order from the office. There can be no question of dispute as to delvSy end q.Lwy««>i.» to*-

general I ookiim over your balance sheet • Ihl heading of “Profit and Loss SS'c "totTe' Hill tall of Capita -s , r J ]lv net capital borrowed, but surplus -m il that have been used for extensions at various periods in of the undertaking. Seeing that t amount Cannes no charge for mterejt, I am of opinion that it should come under a heading “Adiustment’ or ReKCV vo Account” with la statement Surulus Profit (Invested in Plant). ‘ With an undertaking worth over i'dhOlO, represented V>y a loan capital of £17,600, vour Council are m a unique position in the Dominion with hul. a fixed charge for of £789/10/- per annum. _ Ihis wnuc laudable, is not good business inannuc (Pat vour Council receives no direct benefit financially from tne undwtakHad a company been the owners, regular dividends would have been paid y< lu j ordor that your Council should he placed in the same poatima** company 1 would recommend that faHire extensions be made out of capital mined by loan for the work. After paying interest on such loan there should remain by tarcful management a substantial balance of proht which will enable a fairly large amount p, he transferred to General Account, as a contribution towards the relief ot (.'ei'fib, rates. , , Several items in the order of reference are incorporated with others in this report! If any lack clearness 1 shall be pleased to throw light upon it on hearing from youd Council. In conclusion I desire to thank the Town Clerk, the City-Engineer, and the foreran of works for information bo willingly supplied. COST OF REPORT The Town Clerk said the account of ‘Mr Edwards amounted to £lll. Or. Coltman; Money wasted. The account was passed for payment. CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT The covering report of the City Engineer stated fa COAL

This is exactly what I have always contended. The Liverpool State coal is probably the freest from sulphur of ad the New Zealand coals and for this reason is the best gas coal for quantity ami quality. Round coal can be carbonised much quicker than small coal, and foi this reason State coal, unfbss it- is sei ceiled or is a good' sample of unscreened, cannot be used in winter owing to the limited retort capacity. ■ Also, the New Zealand coals swell m the retorts, thereby limiting the charges. The Newcastle coals do ■ not swell and the retorts can be filled right up without fear of damaging the retorts during carbonisation or in the drawing ol the charges. CARBONISING DBA NTS

There is noiliiug recommended that isn't already the praclice. I have impressed on the Council Imm I /me to time that Mm carbonising plan* is taxed to the limit during tin 1 winter imi * it would certainly • he eery uukvard it anything went wrong fit that season. Incidentally, it says much for the management that not Ling serious has occurred. Provision is made every summer when demand for gas is at a minimum to overhaul and whore necessary to renew the defective beds. One bed. now dismantled already for rebuilding, ylnd possibly "dl Imve. to be. removed Ibis summer. , The, 2, 500,000 increase referred to has obtained since the taking over of the. works by me in 1917. J do not anticipate any sudden upheaval on the advent of the electric light- iho change will be. gradual and the adoption of gas stoves will alflo he gradual unless very strenuous efforts are made to push them, 1 would ask you !" consider what the result will be next winter if cooking and heating are pushed ahead of the relief •of the works of the lighting. /