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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

The Auckland Gas Company, Ltd

The Auckland Gas Company, Ltd. Directors: Mr Thomas Buddle (chairman), Professor F. D. Brown, and Messrs J. H. Upton, Thomas Ching, Thomas Peacock, J.P., William Philcox, and J. L. Wilson. Mr. E. B. Parsons (secretary), Mr. Chenery Suggate, A.M.I.C.E. (engineer). Offices, Wyndham Street. Works, Freeman's Bay, Auckland. Cable address, “Hydrogen, Auckland.” Office telephone, 50; works telephone, 185. P.O. Box 81. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private address of secretary (Mr. E. B. Parsons), London Street, Ponsonby. The Auckland Gas Company occupies a place in the front rank of the city's institutions. Its history shows that capable management—and not high charges—is the great secret of success. The company supplied gas for the first time on the 15th of April, 1865. Since June, 1867, sixty-two half-yearly dividends have been paid, averaging 14s 11d per £5 share annually, or within a fraction of fifteen per cent, premium. In 1862 the company was formed with a capital of £20,000, and in 1898 it stood at £250,000. Many of the shares have been sold at a high premium, and the resulting profits have been devoted to the expensive work of extending the mains throughout the scattered suburbs of Auckland. The mains measure 112 miles, and extend to the Avondale Asylum on the west, Onehunga in the south, and Remuora on the east, the North Shore being supplied from the company's separate works at Devonport. These mains vary in diameter from 18 inches downwards, and throughout the extensive area mentioned gas is supplied at the uniform price of five shillings per thousand, cubic feet. These results could not have been attained without the aid of the premium capital, which amounted to half of the paid up capital. Though gas was supplied in 1865, it was not until 1871 that the Legisture assigned to the company its area of supply, which is comprised within a radius of ten miles from the Auckland Post Office. The company early recognised the advantages of conducting its operations on ordinary commercial principles, and, for the purpose of affording facilities to consumers, undertook the importation and sale of gas fittings and appliances of every description. Accordingly the agency for the sale of the Otto gas engine was accepted from Messrs Crossley Bros., of Manchester, and one of the first engines exported by the makers to the Australian Colonies was exhibited in a shop in Queen Street in full work. This did much to popularise gas as a motive power, and since then the company has assisted manufacturers and others to acquire engines, by letting them on hire and selling them on the deferred payment system. This method has also been largely adopted in supplying gas ranges and all other appliances for the combustion of gas. At the company's head offices in Wyndham Street, there is comfortable accommodation for about twenty clerks. There, too, the company has its handsomely appointed board-room; a large and convenient saleroom; an unpacking room, and work-rooms; and on the ground floor, in the rear of the large public office, there is a model kitchen, fitted with all the needful ranges and utensils for the conduct of classes in practical cooking. This room is under the management of a lady from the South Kensington School of Cookery, and her instructions and expositions are very helpful to the ladies and girls of Auckland. She is most attentive to all enquiries, explaining the intricacies and demonstrating the practical use of the innumerable appliances for cooking and heating by gas, and nothing is charged for her services to the public. It was in 1866, during the administration of the City Board, that Auckland was first publicly lighted by gas. Under the Borough Council, and subsequently the City Council, this branch of the Gas Company's business has greatly increased, more especially since the amalgamation with the city, of the Ponsonby, Karangahape and Grafton highway districts. The city is now lighted by about 500 Welsbach incandescent gas burners, each of the strength of sixty candle power. The first step taken by the company on accepting the Welsbach incandescent gas light was to make an offer to the City Council to substitute in the public library and reading room, full-sized incandescent burners for the common ones then in use, the condition being that after a three months' trial the Council might call upon the company to re-instate the old system free of all cost to the city. Instead of this, however, the Council willingly paid all costs of the new installation, for it was found that the consumption of gas had decreased from 1300 to 800 cubic feet per night, while there was a marked improvement in the lighting. The company further undertook the upkeep of the burners, mantles and chimneys, at a cost of £2 per month, including the labour of lighting, cleaning and repairing. At the end of the first year, however, only nine mantles
Interior of Auckland Gas Co.'s Premises.

Interior of Auckland Gas Co.'s Premises.

page 413 tles had been replaced out of the sixty-eight which had been in use every night. The Auckland Gas Company has ever been on the alert to secure for its customers all available gas-saving appliances, yet the demand for gas has constantly increased. For 1897 the consumption reached 195,000,000 cubic feet, and 208 millions were manufactured; the fourth largest output in Australasia. The price per thousand feet has steadily decreased from one pound to five shillings, which for the past two years has been the uniform charge in city and suburbs. The principal works are situated in Freeman's Bay, where the company's property covers an area of nine acres. There are two gasholders at Freeman's Bay, one at Epsom, and one at Onehunga. The main holder is of the kind known as telescopic, is 105 feet in diameter, with two lifts each thirty feet high, and a capacity of 520,000 cubic feet. The second holder at Freeman's Bay contains 104,000 feet; the Epsom holder, 50,000 feet, and that at Onehunga, 29,000 feet. The low level of Onehunga necessitates the pumping of the gas into the holder, and for this purpose a very fine gas engine is used. Of course, the manufacture of the gas is continuous, for the several holders contain less than one day's consumption. At the main works there are eleven beds, each containing seven through retorts, and each bed is capable of manufacturing 100,000 feet per day of twenty-four hours. The plant throughout is of the most approved description ordinarily used for the making of gas, the only special appliance being the sprayer for infusing oil in to the gas to keep in suspension the napthaline, which would, if allowed, crystallize and block all small apertures. The residual products are collected and disposed of to the best advantage, and the careful management of this department has greatly reduced the cost of the gas. Probably no company south of the line has done so much to popularise gas as a means of light, heat and power as the Auckland Gas Company Simultaneously with the introduction of the new Welsbach burner, it imported a variety of beautifully finished and admirably designed fittings, and the ponderous old-fashioned gasoliers have been entirely discarded in favour of delicately constructed furnishings suitable to the requirements of the new light. These are supplied to consumers at the very lowest remunerative prices, and all the work connected with the fitting and installing is undertaken by the company. The Auckland Gas Company has 7000 customers, and there are 175 gas engines in use. It is, therefore, an extensive employer of labour. In winter the staff numbers about 200 men, but during the summer months the total is reduced to about 170. The company's valuable property on the western side of Freeman's Bay has been excavated for the erection of handsome and extensive new buildings, and the unsightly and unhealthy “intake” filled up without expense to the city. These works have been carried out under the supervision of the company's new engineer, Mr. Chenery Suggate, whose experiences in the Old Land well qualify him for such duties. The Devonport gasworks are the property of the Auckland Gas Company, and the Devonport Fire Brick Works are the only works of the kind in New Zealand. The whole plant has recently been increased, and new kilns and large drying sheds erected to enable the company to cope with the ever increasing orders. The company supplies retorts and fire clay goods of the best description to every gasworks
Auckland Gas Co.'s Offices.

Auckland Gas Co.'s Offices.

page 414 works in New Zealand, as well as fire goods for the many improved methods of treating ore.
Auckland Gas Co.'s Premises.

Auckland Gas Co.'s Premises.