THE GAS DEPARTMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18514, 27 March 1922, Page 2

THE GAS DEPARTMENT.

SOME NEW PROPOSALS. Several matters of interest appear in the report of the Gas Committee which will be presented to tho City Council at its meeting on Wednesday night. It is reported, among other things, that an offer has been received from a private company to purchase the whole of the gasworks’ output of tar at present average rates for the purpose of dehydrating the same, and to re-sell the dehydrated tar to the Council at a price to be agreed upon. The company would retain the products of dehydration—i.e., light oils—and manufacture them locally into sheep dips, disinfectants, etc. The committee, after giving the proposal careful consideration, ha* resubmitted it to a sub-compiittee consisting of the chairman and Cr Shacklock, with authority to report direct to Council it necessary. The committee also states that coal supplies having become normal, it has been decided to revert to the pre-war system of obtaining the gasworks’ requirements:, by public tender. Specifications will accordingly be drawn and tenders invited for supplies for the works for the year ending March 31, 1923. Another clause in the report states that a petition was received from the residents of Moana crescent for an extension of the gas supply to connect about 20 consumers. The committee was anxious to authorise the extension, but as the cost would, be about £420, and it was likely that in the near future the department would need to incur fairly heavy expenditure on extensions and improvements to the gas supply service, the matter was referred to the Finance Committee to report on the financial aspect. After considering the matter, the Finance Committee has reported that such work can be provided for out of the department’s ordinary revenue. There is no objection therefore to the proposed immediate expenditure of £420 on further reticulation in Moana crescent. The recommendation which will be put forward by the committee are as follow: — (1) That authority be granted to lay nine chains of 3in main in Cannington road, Maori Hill, to connect six consumers, at an estimated cost of £97. (2) That Alexander Cunningham, fitter at the gasworks, be granted a bonus of £lO for improvement? effected by him in the discharging machine in the retort-house. 'The gas engineer states that the improvement* will considerably prolong tho life _of the projecting mechanism of the machine. Although it is not mentioned in the report, tho committee is calling for tenders for a quantity of pipes of a larger size than those at present in use. This action has been rendered necessary owing (o the greatly increased number of consumer* on the Flat.