Wellington News.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 7, 9 January 1901, Page 2

Wellington News.

SEARCHLIGHTS FOR DEFENCE PURPOSES. GOVERNMENT GRANTS FORRAILWAYS. [By Telegraph—Press [Association.] Wellington, last night. The Government has authorised the purchase- of searchlights for defence purposes at Wellington and Lyttelton. The Cabinet has voted a progress payment of £IO,OOO towards, the prosecution of works at Ohinemuri and on the North Island trunk line'. Messrs Isaacs (of Nelson) and Brown have been appointed organising inspectors of the technical schools of the colony.

' Five other .'officers besides LieutenantColonel Banks will be appointed to take charge of the Sixth Contingent.

Paris, Jan. 7. The Petite Parisian, the organ of the French Minister ef Agriculture, states that the Emperor of China and an influential party favor extending the protectorate of the Czar over the whole of Northern China. French interests, the newspaper sajs f are confuted to Southern China,

PROPOSED ELECTRIC LIGHTING OF GISBORNE.

At the meeting of the Borough Council last night, an important suggestion was made. Under date January Bth, 1901, Mr Chas. Dunlop wrote as follows “ Gentlemen, —I noticed a statement made at your last meeting that it would beneoessary to increase the amount of taxation now levied, even if the present conveniences only were to be maintained; I tako the liberty of laying before you a proposal, by the adoption of which, I believe, the necessity to raise the rates would be obviated, and at the same time a very great boon conferred upon the public. Your Council, inspired by a laudable and progressive spirit, submitted to the ratepayers a short time ago proposals for a water supply, drainage, and the metalling of the streets, and have since taken the initiatory steps with regard to these works. It seemed to mo, when these proposals were published, that two requirements were omitted, efficient lighting of the town and the construction of better footpaths. With regard to lighting, I thought that we oould take advantage of the power afforded by Nature in the Te Reinga Falls to generate' electricity, and convey it to Gisborne, if practicable and not too costly. I wrote’ to Messrs Steuartand Finn, well-known electrical engineers carrying on business in Auckland and Dunedin, and they informed me that as far as they oould judge, my idea was perfectly practicable, and that although the cost of the installation would be rather heavy, the running expenses, eto., would be very small. After I supplied them with all the information 1 could in reply to their questions, they estimated the cost at £12,000 to £15,000. This rough estimate includes the cost of power for working the pumping machinery of the waterworks (if neoessary, which I feel convinced will be tho case) sufficient to work the engines of the two freezing companies and others, and also provide lighting for 1800 incandescent lamps all on at once. Messrs Steuart and Fenn give a rough idea of the way the work oould be accomplished. Turbine or Pelton wheels (according to ciroumstances) would be placed at the falls; these would operate alternators, generating electricity at a very high pressure, and the power transmitted to Gisborno by means of a copper line, where it would be transferred down to a low pressure for lighting, etc. Now, if the ratepayers decided to borrow £70,000 to pay off the overdraft and provide for water, drainage, lighting, road metal, footpaths, and abattoirs (the last rendered Lecessary by the new Act), the yearly cost would be about £3500. This calculation provides for interest at 4 per cent, and 1 per cent, sinking fund. (I am assuming a sinking fund is required by law, otherwise I would not include it). Against the £3500 there would be the revenue derived from rents, licenses, etc., and rate of Is 6d in the £, as at present, on the rental value, say, the whole amounting to £3700. The water rate should yield, say, £BOO, thus leaving a balance of £IOBO in favour of tho ratepayers, whioh could be used towards the cost of working expenses, administration, etc., and the deficiency made up by the rate of electric energy and lighting to the public. Only a comparatively small sum would be required to make good the deficiency, for it must be remembered that the whole of the new work—water supply, drainage, etc.— would be paid for, the greater portion of the town lightedjwithout charge, and the motive power for pumping at the waterworks also free of cost. This last item alone would be very considerable yearly if steam power were employed. If, too, the town were sufficiently lighted now by gas, the annual cost at the present charge per lamp would be nearly sufficient to pay the interest upon the amount required for electrioal installation. Another advantage would be this: Having your plant erected at Te Reinga you oould supply at little cost Wairoa with electricity if the people there were willing to pay for it, It would benefit them and be a source of revenue to you, besides being the first district bond of mutual interest between Gisborne and Wairoa, which would only require railway connection to increase and strengthen. (You are empowered, I believe, by the new Act, to contraot with outsiders). My proposal is based upon the belief that some pumping at least will be neoessary in connection with the water supply, and that the ratepayers of Gisborne would rather have a town up-to-date in the matter of convenience, and pay a low rate and small ehargo for eleotric lighting, in preference to paying a heavy rate and doing without lighting. Low rates will induce population and capital to come to the district, but high ones will keep both away. Summarising the advantages of the proposal would be—(l) no increase in the rates, with electric - power and lights for the public at small cost; (2) electric power . and street lights for the Council free of cost; (3) electric power and lights for Wairoa and extra revenue for the Council. I beg ,to enclose two letters received from. Messrs Steuart and Fenn, who, if you wish, would be glad to draw up a report on the whole scheme. Of course, if a source of. power, equal to Te Reinga could be obtained nearer to Gisborno so much the better, but I know of none.— I am, yours faithfully, Chas. Dunaos.” .

The enclosures forwarded ! f**, as follows

C. Dunlop, Esq.: Dear Sir,—We thank you for your favor of the 20th inst., which duly came to hand. As far as we can judgo we think that the soheme you propose is perfectly practicable, and although the first cost of the installation will be rather heavy, the running expenses, etc., would be very small. Before giving an estimate of the probable cost we should be glad if you could give us some approximate data as to the following items (1) What powar a£e ; the falls you mention-capable of developing? (2) How many feet of fall are thefel?]i(3) How many lamps does the Gisborne Gjjk Company supply, and how many feet peraniium'? How much do they charge per looosjms.ip feet? (4) What amount of power could he sold to the general public for freezing] works, etc.? (5) What power would be requiredlfor the water supply, and at what times .would it be required ? Are there any other towns in the district that could be supplied;li;>if'so how far are they from the sourcepf.pow4r? To give you a rough idea of the-way; the work could be accomplished, turbines ior pelton wheels, according to circumstances,[would be placed at the Falls. These would.-operate alternators, generating pressuro,V>and the power transmitted to.Gisbomdfiyjiheans of a copper line, where it wouldr.betransformed down to a low pressure for lighting, eto., but it would be impossible to use.(the)'[existing telegraph lines, for apart from Government objections, this would be dangerous. After receiving our rough estimate of the work you could then judge as to whether it would be worth while to undertake the work, and if so, we will be pleased to plaoe our services at your disposal. We are, &e., Steuart and Fern,

0. Dunlop, Esq.: Dear Sir, —Yours of the 27th inst. duly to hand, and contents noted. Many thanks for your information, which has enabled us to form a rough estimate of the cost, eto., of an installation necessary for supplying light power, for a water supply, and for outside purposes. We have allowed for the lighting of about 1800 incandescent lamps all on at once, and for the supply of water at 250 feet per head for 4000 people, each using 30 gallons per day.- The rough cost of the installation would be from £12,000 to £15,000, but of course it is impossible for us to [give a nearer estimate without more definite knowledge. We should [be very glad to put this before the -Borough Council, and we should have much pleasure in drawing up a report on the whole scheme for them if they wish. This price does not include the pumping machinery or pipes, etc. Trusting that you have enough information in order to take the preliminary steps, we are, &q., Sieuabt and Fern. The Mayor: The letters are full of interest. Cr Johnston: It has goi to'come. Cr Kennedy; We should thauk Mr Dunlop for the very interesting letters. Cr Joyce said that Mr Dunlop had shown them to him some days previously; he had found they contained a lot of information, and that it was probable the works suggested could be beneficially taken in hand. (Hear, hear.) He believed that they would effect a great saving in. many ways. They might discuss the matter -at a future meeting, but it seemed to him that theyßhould invite Messrs Bteuart and Fenn to make an inspection of the Falls.

The Mayor said they should thank Mr Dunlop for the information, and inform him that it would ha considered at a later period

No doubt the subject was receiving a good deal of attention now, and if the Falls could be utilised they would have the light railway running by electricity alongside the great deposits of limestone.

The Town Clerk was instructed to acknowledge the communication with thanks.