furnaces was also demonstrated. The cellar beneath the house is light and cool; and it is so arranged that it gets a refreshing current of air passing through, which makes the work of the men less fatiguing than usual. On the works there are three holders, with a total storage accommodation for 250,000 cubic feet. The largest holder, which at the time of the visit had been only recently constructed, has a capacity of 150,000 cubic. feet. Mr. Hawkins has all his holder valves located in one building, in pairs; so that there is no excuse for a man closing one valve before he opens another. This gives almost absolute assurance of safety. Four new purifiers, 18 feet by 20 feet, had also lately been installed; and a 12-inch governor had been added to the works equipment. Formerly the works only possessed an 8-inch governor; but, with the new one, the district could be served in two different directions. A river runs through the town; and more pressure is required on one side than on the other. Consequently one side of the river is fed through the new governor; and the other through the old one.

After a thorough inspection of the plant had been made, the President very kindly entertained the members to luncheon in a marquee; and, the weather being fine and warm, the repast under such conditions was immensely enjoyed. Mrs. Hawkins, Mrs. and Miss Barton, and other ladies very gracefully attended to the wants of the President's visitors.

THE BUSINESS MEETING.

From the works, the members walked to the Council Chamber, where the business portion of the day's programme was taken in hand.

Mr. H. WIMHURST (Sleaford), the retiring President, occupied the chair at the commencement of the proceedings, which he opened by remarking that the Chairman of the District Council (Mr. Birch) was present, and would offer a word of welcome to Association.

Mr. BIRCH said it was with very great pleasure that he welcomed the members to the town. It was the first time they had been honoured by the Association meeting in Spalding; and he believed the town was very highly flattered in having the Presi dent residing in the town. Mr. Hawkins took a deep interest in producing gas of a superfine character; and they were very proud to have such a Manager as him conducting their works. He was sure they had made, as the members had seen, great progress at the works since they had the honour of having Mr. Hawkins as Manager; and he believed the gas engineers

present would fall in with the view that they had works which, for the size of Spalding, were equalled by none. He reiterated

the pleasure it gave him to welcome the Association. Mr. WIMHURST thanked Mr. Birch for his exceedingly kind remarks.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING.

The HON. SECRETARY (Mr. J. H. Troughton, of Newmarket) read the minutes of the meeting held at Cambridge (see ante, p. 109); and they were confirmed.

ADDITIONS TO THE ROLL.

On the proposition of Mr. J. T. JOLLIFFE (Ipswich), seconded by Mr. JOHN BARTON (Peterborough), Mr. C. J. P. WadmanSmith, of Brigg, and Mr. J. Croxall, of Witham, were elected members.

THE NEW PRESIDENT.

Mr. WIMHURST said his next duty was to vacate the chair in favour of Mr. J. G. Hawkins. No words in the way of introduction were required, as all the members knew Mr. Hawkins so well. He (Mr. Wimhurst) was sure he would conduct the affairs of the Association with satisfaction to the members, and with credit to himself.

Mr. HAWKINS was installed in the chair amid much applause; and, having thanked the members for their hearty greeting, he at once delivered his

INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

Gentlemen,-My first duty in addressing this meeting is to express my grateful appreciation of the high honour you have done me in electing me as your President for the present year, and for the compliment bestowed in selecting Spalding as your place of meeting. In occupying the chair to-day, I feel I can rely upon the same kindly help and support of the members present that has characterized all our meetings in the past. The annual report of the Association will, I believe, be considered as highly satisfactory. The receipts during the year are fully equal to the expenditure; while the list of members continues to increase. During the past year, several well known and very highly respected members of the Gas Institute have gone over to the great majority, whose loss we must all of us greatly regret.

It is not my intention to weary you with a very long address, especially as there is a considerable amount of business to come before the meeting that will require your attention; neither is there any need for it, seeing how well our technical journals

perform their part in publishing all matters interesting to our profession. I have therefore selected a few subjects only on which I might offer some observations.

The published parliamentary returns lately issued show an enormous increase in the consumption of gas for the past year, notwithstanding the continued demand there is for electric light. It seems remarkable, but it is nevertheless a fact, that the installation of electric light in towns invariably results in a larger increase than usual in the consumption of gas in those places. This may be accounted for in several ways-chiefly because of cooking and heating by gas, motive power, incandescent lighting, and the ever-growing desire there is for more light. The electric light, therefore, though a powerful competitor, is by no means an enemy; both forms of light may go on in friendly competition with each other and prosper. One thing I might mention, however, is that at present the percentage of increase in the consumption of gas is far greater than it is with the electric light. How long this will continue time alone can tell.

The march of improvement in the method of carbonization has grown apace during recent times. Regenerator and semiregenerator settings have now almost entirely superseded the old form of direct-fired ones. Inclined settings have, in many instances, taken the place of horizontals; and a number of other minor improvements might be mentioned, all aiming at the same end-that of cheapening the cost of production. It is only a very short time since when anything from 9000 to 9500 cubic feet of gas per ton of coal was considered an excellent result, and very few aimed at anything above that. But now, with the improvements I have named, we are accustomed to obtain 10,000 to 11,000 cubic feet per ton-indeed, we sometimes hear of even better results than these being obtained. Anyway, the retort-house is undoubtedly the place which settles the question of profit and loss.

Carburetted water gas seems to have suffered a slight check lately, owing, no doubt, partly to the increased value of coke, and partly (though, I think I may say, chiefly) to the increased price of oil. That it will soon recover from this check nothing can, I think, be more certain; and that in the near future it will be used more largely than ever-mixed, of course, with coal gas. It has several features that commend themselves to our notice, such as the short time it takes to get the process in full work, and when in full work the great rapidity with which the gas is produced; also the small amount of labour it takes to work the process, all of which are matters of the highest importance in

times of sudden fog, or from some cause or other when the pro. duction is less than the consumption, and the stock getting uncomfortably low. Again, it commends itself because of the great saving of hard laborious work compared with that in the manufacture of coal gas. The actual cost of production of both gases is practically the same, so there is nothing to choose on that head.

The introduction of stoking machinery has made rapid progress during the last few years. How to save labour, or to make the work more pleasing to the workman, has for some time past been receiving considerable attention. The arduous work of the stokers, and the great heat under which they labour, are far from satisfactory; and whatever appliances are introduced that will render this work easier, will be welcomed with satisfaction both by employers and employed. So much progress has been made lately in this direction, that suitable machinery is now available for works of all sizes-from the smallest to the largest-so that there is no reason now why shovel charging should not be a thing of the past. A simple, yet very efficient, form of stoking machinery for medium-sized works was recently introduced at the gas-works here in Spalding; and those of you who have not already seen it, are invited to do so. It has been in operation about three months; and I am glad to say that it has greatly exceeded my expectations. The work is done quicker and better, and the stokers are relieved of a lot of heavy monotonous labour, as compared with charging with the shovel. The system is very popular with the men; and as an example of what they can do with it, I may say that two men will draw and charge seven oval retorts, 10 feet long, 34 cwt. charges, wheel out and quench the coke, and do all else belonging to the draw in 20 minutes-being an average of less than 3 minutes per retort, or about one-third of the time it takes to do it with the shovel.

In addition to stoking machinery, many other forms of laboursaving appliances have been brought out-notably the coal conveyor, for conveying the coal from railway truck or barge into the stores; also machinery for conveying the hot coke from the retorts to the coke-yard, quenching it on the way, screening it, and, when necessary, loading it into trucks or carts, all without being once touched by hand labour. The saving effected by these two improvements alone amounts to at least 5d. per 1000 cubic feet as wages now go, besides the work being done more easily and better in every way.

The continued progress shown by the prepayment-meter

system is astounding. In some towns it now forms almost onefourth of the total consumption-especially where extra facilities are afforded as regard free fitting and stoves, &c. The rule adopted in Spalding, and which I find answers very well, is: On receipt of an application for a supply of gas, an inspection of the premises is made, and if satisfactory, gas is laid on, and two lights and a kettle-stove fixed free; the whole to remain the property of the Gas Department. The quantity of gas we supply is 22 cubic feet for a penny, with one penny in every six pence returned as discount each time the box is cleared, which makes it actually 26'4 cubic feet for one penny net, or at the rate of 3s. 2d. per 1000 cubic feet, as against 2s. 6d. charged to ordinary consumers. The difference of 8d. per 1000 feet is, I find, about the right amount required to cover cost of fittings, meter-rent, and the extra trouble of collection. I may say that the reason why we allow this class of consumers discount is because, since the system was first introduced, the price of gas has been reduced; and rather than be at the trouble and expense of altering the dial of the meters, it was decided to allow a discount instead, which is found to answer exceedingly well-indeed, it is liked by the consumers, as they enjoy having something to be going on with each time the meter is emptied. Taken as a whole, I consider these consumers fairly profitable, and well worth the outlay incurred. The system brings us in touch with an entirely new class of consumers, who, in many cases, are unable to bear the cost of fittings and perhaps pay a deposit in addition, and then at the quarter-day have to reckon up with that dreadful man the gas collector.

The present high price of coal is the most serious question with us just now. In some cases, prices have doubled within the past four years; the result being that in most towns the price of gas has had to be raised. In considering the extra price we are now paying, credit, I think, should be given to the colliery owner for what he undersold the coal in years gone by, This is only fair; but the extra price now charged is, of course, very much greater than this. It is a most difficult question, and one that supply and demand alone can settle; and in the meantime, we must try and meet the difficulty as best we can. These exceedingly high prices cannot last much longer, for stocks are increasing everywhere, and buyers are being flooded out with it, and are at a loss to know what to do with the coal or where to put it; showing clearly that the supply is now quite equal to, if not in excess of, the demand. Iron has also dropped 10s. per ton already; and coal is certain to follow suit. Had all of 28800