COLLIER’S SAILING WOULD SAVE GAS BEING CUT TO-DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 165, 18 July 1946, Page 4

COLLIER’S SAILING WOULD SAVE GAS BEING CUT TO-DAY

i Unless advice is received in nui this morning that Hke odWhjfl Hnlmlea is likely to leave to-day, the city pas supply w* have to be completely cut off betweeai I. and 4 o'clock in tbc artemoom This restriction was imposed yas4sH day when the kbs shortage repribed crisis, due to coat rtocks mmffng cariously low. The engineer and manager, Hr. J. Stone, said last, nicnt that stood from information reeenftStiMa the Hoimlea was loaded at Qwfel mouth and ready to sail, mr ftiWH movements, however, depenoM <|p shipping dispute which has <M*|g>Sl colliers at Westport and GrejmamtS. “If we could obtain supplies the position would again be galWlM tory,” he added. “As it is. we ha»j as little coal that we cannot take ties with the gas available.” Failing definite advice reoanffiaff the Holmlea's sailing, the numosf jB retorts in operation at the works w® have to be reduced to-day. This at&( would mean a further drop in the ouW put of gas, already insufficient to maeff demands. |

There are 12 retorts at the w«(M| and 11 of them arc in use at the pM sent time. If a further redaction ■ made, however, the works nMr 4 able to suppl}' sufficient gas ta tMff the city over the week-end.

The average daily demand in tM city has been 680,000 cubic feet sincq the cold weather began while the outd put of the works has not exceeded 630,000 cubic feet. Yesterday morning ihc gasworks holders contained onljj 300,000 cubic feet—less than half thff day's requirements— and the sity for a shut-down became obviousa Although the cut-off yesterdaw afternoon was general throughout Wanganui, sufficient gas was releasea from the works to keep the two-inch( main filled and consequently same city offices received a faint supplyi from this main.