AN EX-BOROUGH COUNCILLOR ABROAD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3038, 7 November 1908, Page 5

AN EX-BOROUGH COUNCILLOR ABROAD.

INTERVIEW WITH MR F. W. TEMPLE. MUNICIPAL PROGRESS AT HOME. SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION. It is only to be expected that Mr F. W. Temple, who was, prior to leaving on his recent trip to the Old Country, one of the most practical members of the Masterton Borough Council, would, when abroad, keep an eye on the advancement made in Municipal matters in the centres at Home which he visted. As a matter of fact Mr Temple did do so, and noted many things of interest and value which he hopes will prove of service to the Borough of Masterton at some future time. Interviewed yesterday by a Wairarapa Age reporter Mr Temple gave some highly interesting details of the latest ADVANCES IN THE GAS WORLD. Mr Temple, as ex-chairman of the Gas Committee of the Borough Council, made it his particular business to visit various important gasworks in different parts of England, and one of these was at Harrow-on-the-Hill, on the outskirts of London. "Here," said Mr Temple, "I was fortunate enough to get into conversation with thß representative of Gibbons and Co., a leading firm of gas engineers at Homeland he piloted me through the works, and explained to me the various latest improvements in gas-making plants. The most striking advancement was, I think, in the retort house. Instead of the horizontal retort, as in the Masterton and other New Zealand gasworks, the retorts are put in at an inclined angle. This has obvious advantages in the way of stoking, as it enables the charge to be withdrawn in a considerably less time, and with a smaller expenditure of labour. Then again this advantage is increased on account of the system of elevator stoking, which is in use in the carbonising works at Home. Instead of the coal being shovelled into the retorts by hand, it is shot into a pit, fed into elevators, which in turn feed the retorts. Another important feature of the inclined retort is that about a thousand feet of gas more per ton of coal is produced. From a labour-saving point of view alone thera is estimated to be about 50 per cent, less manual labour required than under the old system." Mr Temple said it was really astonishing to observe how gas is superseding electricity for street lighting purposes. "The streets of London are magnificently lit with incandescent gaslamps," said Mr Temple, "and electricity is also being displaced for that purpose elsewhere in England." SOME MODERN DEbTRUCTORS.

The question of establishing a garbage destructor at Maaterton has been before the Borough Council on more occasions than one during the past two years, and Mr Temple also paid some visits of inspection to important dustructor plants at Lowestoft, Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Birmingham, and elsewhere. He made a point of obtaining information as to the probable cost of a Horsfall destructor of a 20-ton per day capacity, which would meet the requirements of Masterton for some years to come. "I was much struck," said Mr Temple, "with the completeness of the work of refuse destruction in the depots I visited. Everything in the nature of garbage was burnt, even vegetable matter. A two-cell plant to meet the requirements ot Masterton would, I believe, run into possibly £1,400. At Home it cnst £I,OOO, but with the duty and differing circumstances I think about £4OO more could ce added to the cost in New Zealand. The cost of establishment and working could be met in a measure by the utilising of the destructor for the generation of power to work, for instance, the coaj elevator for a retort stoker at a gasworks. The extreme cleanliness and general utility of the destructor is so great that the establishment of one at Masterton might prove a very good investment, financially and otherwise."

PUBLIC CONVENIENCES. "It is surprising," remarked Mr Temple, "how much attention the Municipal authorities at Home are devoting to the matter of street conveniences—a subject which many important New Zealand towns exhibit too little concern over. Lavatories where one can have a wash, brush-up, and be made to look spruce at a cost of a penny and two-pence are to be found in all the large towns, while automatic machines play a very important part in this respect." DISTRIBUTION OF MILK. The distribution of pasteurised milk in bottles is now almost the sole means of sale in some centres at Home, private companies recognising that such means of safeguarding the public health are in their interest. The matter of a pure milk supply for Masterton has been debated on different occasions by the Borough Council, and Mr Temple collected a lot of information regarding the cost of erecting pasteurising plants which he intends to place at the disposal ot' the Borough Council. He visited the Royal Agricultural Show at Great Yarmouth in July last, and personally saw various pasteurising plants in operation. CONSTRUCTION OF STREETS. In answer to a query as to the latest material in use for street and road-making at Home, Mr Temple said that tar-macadam was now all the vogue, except where traffic was very heavy. Even then a foundation of wood-paving is laid, and tarmacadam used for the surface-dress-ing. OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST. "1 could not help being impressed with the way in which the great municipalities attend to the matter of public health and recreation," was a comment by Mr Temple. "The number of recreation grounds is legion, and on these subsidised bands give free nightly recitals for the , benefit of the public. The authorities

believe in the principle of encouraging the people as far as ever possible to dispurt themselves in the fresh-air areas, and to this end they make the parks as attractive as they possibly can." In these days when overburdening rates is not an unheard cry in Masterton, it was refreshing to hear Mr Temple state that at Home they can give Masterton along start for high rates and then beat it. Assuming Masterton's total rates to equal 2s 3d on the rental value, at Norwich they pay 9s Id, at Lowestoft 10s, at Yarmouth 7s, at Birmingham 7s Bd, and at Sheffield 8s Id. "I al3o found," said Mr Temple, "that aj friend of mine living in a rura district outside of Yarmouth, paid 2s 6d in the pound general rate on ten acres of market garden, and in addition £1 per acre to the clergy as tithes. Oh, I tell you they do pay rates at Home," concluded Mr Temple.