THE GASWORKS."

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12857, 29 January 1913, Page 4

THE GASWORKS. "

INSTALLING VERTICAL RETORTS.

THE MANAGERS REPORT

ADOPTED.

TENDERS TO BE CALLED.

Ait th«(t niee'tinig of j.the- Wanganui Borough Council las^. evening the following report was submitted by theEngineer and manager of the gas works, Mr G. D. Stone:

VERTICAL RETORTS

On further consideration of the point* that came up at it he meeting ore vertical retorts, on Friday, the 24th inst, I djo ndst tjhiink 'it advisable *o delay the immediate proceeding with the installing of a vertical retort plant, for 250,000 ft. per day. Several of the points raised occurred to me when the matter was under consideration^ but I considered it was rather a serious undertaking to sweep away at one blow; tlie- whole or the greater part of our horizontal carbonising plant, and I am still ,<tf the opinion. I think it would be wiser to proceed with the first installation of 250,000 ft per day pWt, which will cost about £10,000, to use in'conjunct-ion with the existing horizontal retorts, and later on a second installation of 250,000 or 500,000 feet plant could be installed, and by this time we would need the whole of the old retort house as a coal store. In,' the meantime we would be proving the benefit that wity arise ..from vertical retorts.' ;■;'',.."";' v *"..-"

One otheiv impp.rt^it,point'l would impress Lou yoj^ juiuj Jrom"information.' received from builders of vertical retorts it will taks from .-to 14 months to supply and complete the»erection of verticals after the order is given, and three months to dry after the brickwork is complete. If we am to have the plant in operation for the winter of 1914, we cannot wait for "power to borrow a, further sum to increase the size of the intftalhitiion. The second installation in any case should not cost as much as the first, because the first installation includes machinery, engine house and chimney. The machinery and engine house-jwill be large enough for several installations, and the chimney; for two or. three. - ■:

] I also {wish to state that after oomi paring the Woodali Duckhain system with any of the others, I am strongly of the ©pinion tha-t it as one of the best arid most suitable for our requirc'ments. :

The following propositions submitted by Woodali-Dupkham's agent I beg to submit for .your- consideration in reference to ihej supply and erection of the plant. Pirst: "They .are prepared' to submit a? tftiee to supply all the necessary material - f .o. b. We pay all freight and handling charges and Customs duties. They/ will then take charge of the ereetioii^aud charge tis 10 per cent on the actua| cost of labour for erection. Second; Submit «i price for the material and pay all freight and handImg chargesr and cost of erection and charge us* 10 per cent on all cost, material and; completion of the plant. ii.' 1 have' :n °! 'hesitation in saying that the first proposition would be the best nnd most economical for us, because a good deal of^ local material, including firebricks, could be used at a saving in cost, the firebricks at from £3 to £4 per thousand.

The approximate , cost of the whole of A ,250,000 ft per day plant f.o.b. England is about £5000. A 500,000 ft £9500 Cmt> f"°b' Eil^nd* abt™*

I would recommend that whatever system js adopted, the patentee should erect tlie plant >and give a guarantee to produce certain results, and should be held responsible for the result, and any defects m the construction or material tor a period of, three to six after the plant has been fully at* work +i, * l m-at? ,the ving in wages oii the first instalment of verticals will bo over 4700 per annum after payin c interest «ndallother v charges; the saving on the smoOOff. plant would be morf than double this amount. ' The Chairman of the Gas Committee, Cr Williams, moved the the report be approved and that tenders bewailed f<V» 250 000 ft per day plant viW» B ay°r • «eoond«d-*he motion, which was earned.