CITY GAS DEPARTMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 19 June 1926, Page 6

CITY GAS DEPARTMENT

LOSS ON SHOWROOM TESTING THE MAINS The following reference to the City Gas Department was made in the report of the City Engineer (Mr J. S. Littlejohn) submitted to the Council last evening : The usual returns for May are attached hereto. The demand for gas, which fell oIT upon the advent of the electric scheme, is now on the up grade, due chiefly to the large sales of cokers and heating apparatus. Gas Showroom.—Tlie loss on the year’s transactions appears to he £255 4s, of which £2lB 4s 11 is for wages incurred in connection with the fitting up of the gas appliances which is done free. At present 10 per cent, is added to the landed cost, with a rebate of 5 per cent, for cash. A further 10 per cent, is renuired to cover cost. The showroom is paying £4 per week rent. There was no rent charged for the room in the Council Cham hors. MV Stokes goes to lunch at 12 o'clock and tlie showroom is consequently closed until lie returns. Also lie wishes to have time to make personal investigation of complaints and to supervise Hie fixing of appliances. Tn order to do this and to keep tlie showroom open during his absence it is necessary to employ an assistant. An intelligent hoy or gill would he suitable. Testing the Mains. —A further test was made for leakage in the mains nl a much reduced pressure. The loss in the holder was 17 inches in four hours, from midnight to 4 a.m. From the conditions of some of the service pipes recently renewed I conclude a large portion of the leakage is in the service pipes between the mains and the meters. The value of the gas lost is approximately £3300 per annum, and although it is not practicable to entirely eliminate leakage it seems advisable to take steps tn materially reduce it. This can he done only hv a systematic inspection of all the mains and services, and apart from the cost, which will be considerable, it will take a long time to complete, and it will probably be necessary to put on additional staff for the work. The report was referred to Committee.