CITY LIGHTING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 275, 16 August 1919, Page 3

CITY LIGHTING

, $ • ' REPORT TO BE OBTAINED. The matter of the shortage of coal and its bearing on tho electric lighting system is one which has been exeroising the minds, not only of those who control the coal supply, but also the City Cbijncil. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) stated yesterday that he had recently received a communication from the Eon. A. M. Myers on tho subject, urging that the strictest •economy in regard to coal consumption should be practised. Tho corporation, Mr. Luke added, had for a long time been practising tho strictest economy, and tho notices he had had sent out on bolialf of the City Council, asking that all superfluous lighting, Including illuminations at picture theatres, eto., should ho "cut out ; in fact, that in all cases .where lighting was not essential it shiuld 'be done away with,, hadmet with a ready responso. Tho people had been most helpful in tho matter. Mr. Luke went on to say that a cleaner cut in regard to lighting could ho made if it was absolutely necessary, but the main thing to consider, along with ttio efficiency ;of the lighting station, was tho means of generation by turbines. In this connection he pointed out that the maximum efficiency is obtained from the-turbine when it is working at its maximum capacity, and any restriction, instead of 'being a saving,, would ba the reverse. In this respect tho turbine was unliko tho ordinary reciprooating engines, which, when throttled _ up, wore moro economical in consumption. Whilo due caro was fakon to sco that tho turbino was not overworked, the economical position was to get out of tho machino its maximum output, having due regard to tho consumption of coal. • In roply to a query, tho Mayor agreed that the suggestion waa fairly current that moro could bo dono at tho lighting station by tho utilisation of the machinery which was in use there before l tho instillation of the turbine. If tho three vertical reciprocating generating plant or Curtis turbine could 'be utilised tho/ output could bo about 80 per cent, greater than «t orosont, but the whole trouble at tho station was steam, and until further boiler pressure could be obtained no relief in this. direction would bo forthcoming. Tho boiler which had been on order for a very long tinio was now, however, on tho water, and oxpected 6hortly, and relief would be obtained on its installation.

A further disability, Mr. Luke explained, in regard to the provision of more lights and current in houses where installations have already been made, was the difficulty in obtaining the necessary outside material. This position was likely to clear in tho near futuro, when tho counoil would bo in a position to more fully supply tho demands. " The whole question of tho electric lighting station was reforred to by tho Mayor at a special committee meoting ou Thursday afternoon. The meeting endorsed Mr. Luke's request that a comprehensive report on tho position should' 1m obtained from the engineer.