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grates, to the ultimate benefit of the whole neighbourhood.
By all means let the gas stove be used, but
let the position it is to be placed in be decided by
an expert, such as the man sent out by the gas company,
and it would be well that the attention of
architects and builders should be directed to the
advisability of making a small and suitable recess
for the reception of the stove or " cooker"
in some position readily adaptable for ventilation.
This, if done in the first instance, is.
better done, and far cheaper than the expense
afterwards entailed by structural alterations and
additions.
I submitted the above notes to Mr. H. W. Backhaul,
the courteous and capable Manager of the Kingston
Gas Company, and subsequently had an interview
with him on the subject. He writes me, amongst
other things: " The number of gas cooking stoves
on hire from the Company is now over 8,000, and we
are fixing at the rate of 100 per month. It is seldom
that we are called on for escapes, as all work that is
carried out by our men is properly tested before being
left. Your suggestion that a recess should be made
for the stove is an excellent one, and I think the
builders would not object to this as many are now
finding the great advantages of the gas stove, and
also that the tenants will have one fixed, in fact some
builders arrange with us to fix a stove when the
house is first built in order to save the walls, &c.,
being cut afterwards. He also draws particular
attention to the importance of keeping stoves clean
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