LIGHTING TE KUITI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 451, 27 March 1912, Page 5

LIGHTING TE KUITI.

THE ELECTRICAL SCHEME

INTERVIEW WITH MR CROOKES. Mr S. Irv ing Crookes, the well- * knwon electrical expert, who has 1 been commissioned to report on the ; electric light and power scheme for ; the borough, visited Te Kuiti on Saturday. Mr Crookes was extremely busy throughout the day collecting ! data on which to frame his report, but found time for a short interview with a Chronicle representative. In course of the interview Mr Crookea said that so far as he bad seen, the suction gas elcetrical scheme appeared to be the most suitable for tne town at present. Judging from his experience in other places a sensible schema suitable for many years to come, unless abnormal development took place in the district could be installed within a limit of about£sooo. This estimate, of course, was merely casual and based on his knowledge of other installations. At Wairoa South, for instance where the population was about 1500, an electric scheme on similar lines cost about £3500 exclusive of the power house building, which would not increase the cost by much. One factor in the running of a suction gas plant, which ! was of the highest importance, said j Mr Crookes, was the immense superiority of charcoal as a fuel, compared with coal. If charcoal could be obtained at a cost approximating that of coal it would be infinitely preferable and would ensure the perfect running of the plant. He was not sure if a supply of charcoal could be arranged for at a reasonable cost, but intended to make every enquiry in the direction with a view to recommending it as a fuel for the plant. As to the data he had already obtained, Mr Crookes could not express an opinion further than to say that the universal experience of towns which had adopted the electrical system was highly favourable. In Australia electricity was being adopted very largely, and it was remarkable the number of small towns that were going in for that system of light arid power. With respect to light the metallic filament lamps had assured the popularity ot electricity. As to power, while oil engines were perhaps equally cheap, and in some cases cheaper, to run there were innumerable advantages in favour of electricity which more than counterbalanced the question of cost, and assured its position in public favuur. Mr Crookes left for Auckland by the 2 a.m. express on Sunday, and his report will bs furnished to the Borough Council at the earliest possible opportunity. J