Portable Gas.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4984, 17 April 1889, Page 3

Portable Gas.

A novelty in gas lighting has been recently introduced here by the firm of Gray and Lester, a vieit to whose establishment in St Andrew street will be well repaid. They are the representatives of Messrs D. Keeley and Co., of Sydney, and the specialty which they are now placing before us is an assortment of portable and other lamps, constructed for the burning of Mr Keeley’s wonderful “ coal gas.” The qualities of this gas are almost incredible until one hears them described and sees them actually tested, which Aleesrs Gray and Lester are always willing to oblige any visitor by doing. The “gas” is first shown in a liquid state—in its form of gas oil. A email reservoir at the top of the lamp is filled with this oil, which, passing through an ordinary metal branch, emerges from Kccley’s patent burner at the end in the form of gas, and that gas of extraordinary high illuminating power. In addition to its light-giving power, the oil has the great advantages of being perfectly clean and remarkably safe. As instances of theso qualities, a person may wash his hands in it, or sprinkle any quantity over his clothes, without there being a trace of it perceptible in the shape of either smell or stain a minute afterwards. As to its safety, the strongest proof lies ia the fact that a quantity spilt on a carpet, oilcloth or even a sheet of paper—so long as it is on a flab surface—can be ignited with a mulch, and will immediately evaporate without injuring the fabric in the slightest degree and again without leaving smell or stain behind. It is claimed that the light produced is superior to that of ordinary gas, yet costs the consumer less money. It can bo applied with ease and at small expense to ordinary gas burners, or others constructed for its use can be obtained from Messrs Gray and Lester, as also can reading lamps, bracket wall lamps and all sorts of portable lamps at prices to suit persons of all degrees of means. The firm has already disposed of a large number, and have to send to Sydney for a farther supply. —Dunedin Star.