WELLINGTON GAS SUPPLY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 20

WELLINGTON GAS SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL.

Sir.—Allow me to supplement your remarks in last week’s issue regarding the high price of gas here as compared with Birmingham. In some other towns in England the price is even less than in Birmingham, ranging as low as Is lOd per 1000 ft. The fact, however, is that owing to the great increase in our chemical knowledge of the residuals in gas-making, and in the commercial development and value of these residuals, when converted into aniline dyes, ammoniacal compounds, &c., practically speaking, these products have almost, if not quite, tanen the place of gas as the principal product, leaving gas to take iheir place as the residual of least commercial value; consequently the companies no longer look to gas for their profit as they formerly did, and therefore are enabled to sell it at a much lower rate than they were able to do a few years ago. In some towns I could mention, the price of gas is now le3s than, half what it was a very few years ago. In most towns at Heme the price of gas is regulated by a fixed scale in proportion to the dividends earned by the companies. I am not aware whether or not this is the case here, nor what rate of dividend the Company pays to its shareholders, but there is no doubt that, in having no market for its bye products, the Company is placed at a serious disadvantage as compared with companies at Home.—l am, &c., 25th November. Alchemist.