LIGHTING- THE WHARVES AT LYTTELTON WITH ELECTRICITY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2557, 19 June 1882, Page 3

LIGHTING- THE WHARVES AT LYTTELTON WITH ELECTRICITY.

An interesting and most successful experiment wan made on Saturday night at Lyttelton with the electric light. It will be remembered that Borne time linca Mr P. Cunningham and one or two of the other membera of the Ljctelton Harbor Board suggested that the wharves and harbor thonld be lighted with electricity to take the place of the present gas service. In conformity with that suggestion, information as to the cost, &:., of the electric light was sought for and obtained, but no definite action was taken by the Board further on the subject. It appears though that a gentleman whose knowledge in mutters electrical is indisputable, Mr W. G-. Modelings, inspector of telegraphs in this district, was about that time engaged in constructing two arc lamps, and having sinoe completed them, after an immense amount of labor, he tested them on Saturday evening, the Screw-pile Jetty being the site chosen for the experiment. The preparations made for the exhibition consisted in erecting two scaffold poles, each about 30ft high, and about 200 ft apart on the jetty, on which to hoist the lamps. Having done this, one of the portable donkey engines belonging to the public works department wss hauled into position and steam got up, and the requisite arrangements were made for driving the two dynamos used for generating the electricity. Mr Turpin, superintending engineer for the Harbor Board, directed the motive power part of the experiment, and the harbormaster, Captain McLellan, rendered Mr Modelings such assistance as lay in his power. Soon after dusk, Mr Weddings having adjusted one of the lamps, hoisted it up to the head of the pole, situated about two-thirds down the jetty, or gave the order to the engineer to go-ahead steady. It will perhaps be as well here to give a description of the apparatus. The dynamo machine used is known to electricians by the name of the Gramme machine, and was capable of producing a current sufficient to produce a light equal to 2000-candle power. The motive power required to drive one of thess dynamos when the oircuit it complete, is an engine of two horse power. the armature going at a speed of 950 revolutions per minute. Tl)e onlooker not versed in electric matters, and who had not previously seen one of these electric lamps, would, after an inspection of the lamp in question, see very little about it to entitle it to rank with the lamp family as lamps are known generally, or as the word it used and generally undarstood. Its appearanoe was that of a frame about 2ft 6in long by 9in wide, the sides being brass rods and the two ends brass and woodwork—altogether an exceedingly simple looking instrument. In a holder on the inside of the upper part of the frame a pieoe of compressed carbon, in appearance much like a very thick lead pencil, was placed, and a similar piece of carbon was inserted in a like holder on the bottom of the lamp or frame. The exaot size of the carbons; used was Bin each in length and 7-16chs of an inch in diameter. Suoh, briefly, was the lamp experimented with on Saturday night. The donkey engine caused some trouble and delay at the first by the spasmodic jarky way in which it worked, and the belting was for a time every now and then slipping off. About half-past seven o'clock however the light was exposed in all its ii-tensity. The wharf was crowded with spectators, whose faces were immediately rendered recognisable. The Lyttelton Brass Band, that had been waiting at some distance from the lamp, each member with his music in front of him in readiness for the coming daylight, struck up an electrifying air, and general congratulations were exchanged by everybody present. Must of the members of the Harbor Board witnessed the experiment, and expressed their satisfaction at the result. To give 6ome idea of the strength of the light from this lamp it may be stated that our reporter, in company with Captain MoLellan, Mr B. J. 0. Efarman and another gentleman also being present, stood over close to the railway platform, the distance from the light then being 150 yards or thereabouts, and was enabled to read quite distinctly the address written upon an envelope which was handed to him. Mr Meddings, also present, upon being shown a letter to Mr Harman, recognised the writing as that of a gentleman known to both, and at once, without a moment's hesitation, said whose writing it was. The light was kept going until half-past nine o'clock, when the Union Company's s.e. Albion left the wharf, the passengers loudly cheering the exhibition as she cast off. They had no doubt appreciated the opportunity afforded of walkirg down to the boat without stumbling over the rails or the points, and felt correspondingly grateful. Mr Teague, the Lyttelton photographer, availed himself of a chares to get a negative of a group of spectators on the wharf while the light was burnin;.'. It was Mr Meddings' wish and intention to"run both the dynamos, but he was prevented from doing bo by the circumstance of the pulley being so small that the belt slipped on it, and the engine could not get sufficient power over it to drive the counter shaft. Mr Meddings said he might arrange to try both the lamps together to night (Monday.) With the single lamp the townspeople distant from the wharf 300 yards observed the difference it made in the quantity of light in the streets —a difference wbioh would be doubly sensible had the second limp been used as was proposed. Bhould the light be adopted by the Harbor Board the lamps will probably be elevated to a height of fifty feet or twenty ftet higher than the lamp on Saturday night. The light would also require to bo enclosed in a lantern, and it is not considered that any apprecisble shadow would be thrown from them. Light iron towers containing lamps of 3000 candle light power have been suggested as the best suited to the requirements of the harbor, or of the town itself, should the borough authorities decide to go in for electricity. As to cost, Mr Meddings said that the 8 inch carbons would burn eight hours, or at a cost for carbon per lamp of threepence per hour. For engine power, where a large engine was employed, ho did not think the cost for fuel should exceed 31b of coal per horse power per hour. As to the wear and tear of the electric part of the apparatus, it is merely nominal. The British Eleotrio Light Company, for whom Messrs Kingsford and Joyce, of Lyttelton, have been appointed agents, offer a guarantee to keep them in order for 2 per cent per annum on their cost. The public will Kara with pleasure that the trial of Mr Meddings' lamp was such _ a pronounced success, and that gentleman is to be congratulated on the result.