The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1896. THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 286, 9 June 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1896. THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

A.s the cost of the proposed electric liy;bt for a portion of the Borough will be a considerable factor in influencing the ratepayers whose duty and privilege it will be to decide on Friday next whether the business part of the town is to be improved by being properly lighted or not, we now Jay before them some particulars as prepared by the Managing Director of the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate, with special reference to electric light in private houses. In his letter published yesterday on this subject, the Mayor (Mr W. A. L Bailey) gave certain details which the following support and confirm : — " The cost per lamp per hour is less than that of gas owing to the far greater facilities for switching off the electric light when it is not wanted, when gas would have to be left burning. In calculating the expense of the electric light it should not be compared with the former gas bills, but with the bills for gas, paraffin, and wax candles, with a small amount for tapers and matches. If this is done the electric light bills will compare 1 most favorably with the former bills for illumination, without taking into account the saving to health and dec- > orations. The electric light can be made available at any hour of the day or night, and may be paid for at so much per lamp per annum, in which case the consumer, can burn his lamps '. as long, as he pleases ; or he may pay by meter, which is placed in the circuit at the entrance to every house to

which the light is supplied. The electric meter, which is very reliable, records the number of electrical units burnt in the house. The master of the house can himself calculate and check each month the expense of his electric light." The risk of fire from this cause in dw«Hing-houses or public buildings is reduced to absolutely nil, because there is no heat, it being practically "light without heat," and, therefore, incapable of igniting any inflammable substance by contact. Experience has taught the bitter lesson that a very large proportion of fires have been caused either by the upsetting or explosion of kerosene Jamps. Where the risk of fire is reduced there necessarily follows a proportionate diminution in the rates of insurance. The advantages of the scheme may be summed up as economy in lighting, economy in insurance, and progress to the town.