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154
intendent of Street Lighting, is satisfied with the quality of the
gas as supplied to the public lamps. The burners now in use
consume gas at the rate of 4.5 cubic feet per hour; whereas the
burners formerly in use, originally provided when Cannel gas was
employed, consumed only 3 feet per hour. Notwithstanding the
increased consumption of gas (50 per cent.), and the consequent
improvement in the lighting of the public thoroughfares, the cost,
owing to reduction in price, is less than under the old system of
a fixed annual payment per lamp. Great complaints, however, are
made by private consumers, who allege that, although the nominal
price of gas may go down, (the shareholders' profits going up pari
passu), the actual annual payment for gas is always increasing;
the reason probably being that no means are adopted for controlling
consumption, either at the meter or in connection with the several
burners. It is to the interest of the Company to maintain high
pressure; for then more gas is passed through the meter, and has
to be paid for by the unfortunate consumer; who, moreover, is
put to heavy charges for cleansing ceilings fouled by unconsumed
gas and smoke. I would therefore, once again, recommend, that
records of pressure, at all hours of the day and night, and at
several points in the Company's district within the parish, should
be obtained. I would further recommend that Mr. Monson be
requested to prepare, and that your Vestry should circulate halfyearly,
on the back of the rate-call papers, information shewing
how gas may be burned with greatest effect and minimum consumption.*
This subject might easily be enlarged upon, but as
your Vestry have in Mr. Monson an officer able and willing to
advise consumers to their advantage, I content myself with
expressing a hope that his services may be enlisted in their
behalf.
*In the course of a recent discussion on the Gas question, a member of the
Vestry advocated the use of "Governors" to secure economy of consumption,
by equalisation of pressure, preventing "blowing." He stated that he had effected
a saving of 56,000 feet of Gas, in value nearly £8 in a single year, by using a
governor, the total cost of which was exactly £5 10s. A profitable business
might be done by letting out "Governors," payment for hire to be in the
form of a liberal percentage on the money value of the Gas saved by their use.