LIGHTING TE KUITI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 556, 5 April 1913, Page 5

LIGHTING TE KUITI.

THE ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION. ESTIMATES OF SERVICE. Those who have advocated electric light for Te Kuiti have always maintained that the service would be at least self-supporting from a financial point of view, and as population increased would be a highly payable proposition for the ratepayers. It is, of course, no part of the council's intention to make a large profit out of the consumers, the chief recommendation of the municipalising of the service being the supply of efficient and up-to-date lighting and power for the town at the cheapest possible rate. The service belongs to the people, and those who are responsible for the liability incurred are entitled to the benefits accruing therefrom. Mr y. Irwin Crooks, the engineer who has supervised the installation on behalf of the council, has worked ou his estimate of the first year's working, and providing for a reasonable scale of charges, and a moderate consumption, the estimate shows a credit balance over working expenses of about £4OO. This amount should be sufficient to cover interest and sinking fund and 'eave a margin for depreciation. Assuming the estimate to be a reasonable one the outlook must be considered highly satisfactory. As the town increases in population lighting connections will be multiplied, and the consumption largely increased with little or no extra cost to the borough, In addition, extensions in various directions are already projected, which are shown to be payable at the rates fixed for the current.

Mr Crookes has revised the scale of charges so as to bring them into line with his estimate of the first year's working, and it is satisfactory to know that as the number of consumers increase the cost of the current will De correspondingly reduced. At present the system of wires erected can serve 350 houses, leaving out all buildings of less than four rooms. Estimating that of the 350 houses within reach of the service 150 will connect with ths installation with an average number of lights, the estimated revenue from this source is £996.

It is intended to utilise a motor for the borough crushing plant, and with the plant working half time the estimate from this source for the first year is £220. There is a demand for power to be mutilised privately and the amounting this connection has been fixed at £3O for the year. For street lighting the amount has been set at £l5O.

These fieures represent, a total of 1496, which can be credited to the service.

The estimated expenditure including salaries, office expenses, oiUfuel, and sundries is £llOO, leaving an estimated balance of £396.