WANGANUI MAY HAVE NO GAS AFTER TWO DAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 20 July 1946, Page 4

WANGANUI MAY HAVE NO GAS AFTER TWO DAYS

The city gas suppty is in a precarious position, the nonarrival of the Holmlea with coal from Greymouth. No information could be received in Wanganui yesterday as to when she is likely to leave the West Coast, but the engineer and manager of the Gas Department, Mr. W. J. Stone, was emphatic that if the position does not improve within the next two days the city may be without gas.

The supply was again completely cut off from 1.30 to 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, in an effort to conserve gas, and it is possible that 50 per cent, of the plant will be shut down this morning, with a corresponding reduction in output. Mr. Stone was unable to give any indication of how this reduced output will affect the supply over the weekend. “That, is something that we can learn only bv experience with the plant on a lower output," he said. One possibility to-dav is that the water gas plant will be cut out. This has been supplying about one-third of the output, and its loss may be serious. Another retort may also be cut out. leaving 10 in operation instead of 12.

Mr. Stone explained that the water gas plant uses coke, hut supplies of coke must he conserved for the retorts, hence the need for cutting out the water plant. No reduction in nlant would be made, however, if definite advice were received of the Holmlea's projected departure from Greymouth. The collier is one of several shins held up at West Coast, ports by the dispute over heat and lighting in the crew's Quarters. It is understood ihashe is loaded and ready to sail, but no advice of her movements was heard in Wanganui yesterday.

Coal stocks in hand at the works are sufficient for only two days.