MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8308, 11 December 1906, Page 5

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

GAS MANAGER'S REPORT. A special meeting of the Masterton Borough Council was held last evening to consider a report from the Gbs Manager on matters .generally connected with the gasworks. Or E; McEweu presided, and there were also present—Ors J. Elliott, F. W. Temple, W. Morris, J, H. Pauling and J. 0. Ewjngton. Apologies for absence were received from Ors E. Feist and T. G, Hoar. The Manager's report stated that "the two arches of six retorts are very inconvenient and expensive to work now that the output of gas is decreasing for the summer months. With our present output, six retorts ate not sufficient and twelve are too many. I have, therfore, bricked up four retorts, leaving eight in use. Meantime the four are of oourse under fire, which is not conducive to economy in wear and tear and working accounts. There is also the position to face that with the two arches constantly required we have nothing to fall back on when repairs and renewals of retorts go either arch are necessary. It will, therefore, be absolutely essential that an itdditonal arch of retorts be erected. 1 would recommend that four 21 x 1 5 ovals be installed on the shallow generator principal between the walls of the retort house and the existing bencti. The cost approximately will be £4OO. 1 must again indicate that the existing scrubber is much too small for its work, and that if commercially pure gas is to be dis' trifcuted an additional scrubber or scrubbers should be provided; the expenditure need not exoeed £3OO on this apparatus. With the foregoing additions the Council would have a plant capable of a maximum daily output of 96,000 0.f., with ample purification and storage capacity, and one arch of retoits to fall back on daring summer months for repairs and renewals. In connection with maintenance, I would direct the Council's attention to the ex pense the gas department is being and will be put to for some time to come with alterations of mains and services that are necessitated by the alterations of street levels, footpaths, etc., in connection with the expenditure of loan moneys. Apparently, nu provision has been made in estimating the cost of the various works for this expenditure, though it is obvious that such should be iucluded and charged to loan accounts. If the gas account is to be charged with this extraordinary expenditure then maintenance and distribution expenses will go up considerably. If charged to a «eparate account it means profit and loss will have to find the money at the ex pense of gas consumers. I would suggest that the Gouucil appoint a sub committee to go into the question of providing the necessary funds for: (p) Additional aroh retorts, £100; (b> additional scrubber, £300; (o) extra expenditure new bolder, £300; (d) extra expenditure new gas) mains ; (f) extra expenditure alteration of mains and service in connection with street improvements. It would be as well if, when considering the fore going, a deflniita policy was;formulated for providing funds for capital expenditure; that is, expenditure that, by itself, is reproductive—such as additions to carbonising plant, extension of mains, etc. Briefly, if aapital, as 'required, is provided from loan moneys, with a sinking fund for gradually extinguishirg same, the annual balance to credit of profit and loss is available either for reduction in the price of B as < or may bo utilised in such a manner as the Council may direot for the benefit of the ratepayers, as a whole. t3n the other hand, if suah capital—which a rapdly.increasing business of necessity demands— is taken from the profit and loss account, then the priae of gas most remain at .an undesirably high figure, practically making the present business pay for the cheap gas in the future. However, this is a question of policy on which the Oounoil must deoide. 1 beg leave to point out that the amount of £2OO alio oated for street lighting/is not an adequate return for gas supplied and services rendered, and I would suggest that a definite amount per burner per annum be paid to the gas department, so that as additional lamps and burners f are added suoh amount can be duly credited. As Burning lamps are burning for 2,000 hours per aunum, on a oonsumptiou of five feet per hour, including pilot lights, it means that eaoh burner uses 10,000 uubio feet of gas in addition to whiah the department has to olean lamps, wind clocks, etc."

The question of procuring an Additional scrubber first occupied the attention of the Council. Or MoEweu suggested that a small committee should be appointed to go into the matter, bat Cr Ewington pointed out that the policy of the Council was that the whole Oouaoil should deal with these matters. Or MolDwen thought that the cost of the scrubber oonld not be tnben out of revenue because if that was done it would be impossible to reduce the price of gas for some time to come, and the ratepayers' were looking forward to a reduction. 'lhe mattor might be got over by a small loan of about £I,OOO. The Town Clerk pointed out that the Council bad a loan on the gasworks falling duo next Maroh. A temporary Joan would probably satisfy the present needs, and wheu the loan fell due on Maroh, the wholo question could be reviewed, and if a further loan was raised, an increased rate could be then adjusted. The Gas Manager thought it was absolutely essential that an additional arch of retorts should bo ereoted as soon as possible, as the present ones were liable to go wrong at any time, and the gas that was beinp supplied was not the best. He thought that the matter of the scrubber oould well stand over unI til the Council had taken into consideration the question of finances. The Connoillurs present were appointed a committee to report to the Council as to the ways and means of finding money for the proposed additions and alterations. With regard to the retorts the Manager suggested that if the

Couudil deoided to purchase retorts, he should be given power to give those made in Auckland a trial, as he bad it on the authority of several engineers that the oolonal retorts were aapable of standing great heat. The meeting then adjourned until Monday night.