Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Wellington Gas Company, Limited, Directors: Messrs. Edward Pearce (chairman), G. M. Kebbell, David Anderson, D. J. Nathan, and the Rev. C. S. Ogg. Offices and works, Courtenay Place, Wellington. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Engineer and manager, Mr. H. P. Higginson, M.Inst.C.E. The Wellington Gas Company was established in 1870. The plant was imported from the Old Country, and Mr. Samuel Brown had the contract for its erection and completion. The first gas was manufactured in Wellington in 1871, the price at which it was sold to the public being then 20s. per thousand feet. The first contract entered into with the Wellington City Council was for twenty-four street lamps, at the modest charge of £200 per annum. The Company have nearly two acres of land at page 753 Courtenay Place, and one-and-a-half acres at Tory Street, all freehold. They possesss four gas holders, the larger one in Tory Street holding, when full, 400,000 cubic feet of gas. The Telescopic Holder in Courtenay Place holds 180,000 cubic feet. These two large holders, with the two smaller ones, have a total capacity of 650,000 cubic feet, equal to from one-and-a-half to two days supply for the city. Thirty-six miles of street mains, in addition to the smaller pipes, are in use, the total number of consumers at the present time being 3,500. The company employ from thirty to forty men, many of whom have been engaged at the gas works for many years past, and are included among the well-to-do citizens of the Empire City. The Gas Company are importers of gas fires and other appliances, also of cooking stoves of the special pattern which they have proved to be the best and most serviceable for general use. In 1894, no less than 8100 tons of coal, chiefly from the Grey and Westport mines, was consumed at the works, producing over 88,000,000 cubic feet of gas, and 4000 tons of coke. The tar, ashes, and waste products are all sold, and are largely used in the manufacture of asphalt for garden paths, etc. The price now charged for gas amounts to only 6s. 3d. per thousand cubic feet, net. no meter rents being charged.