Untitled

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3721, 20 October 1906, Page 2

Sir. —As the gas question has been decided against the Borough undertaking the erection of the plant, it would be as well to consider what are the next best steps to take in the way of lighting the township before the coming winter. The question now to consitder is, shall we allow an outside company the option of lighting the town, or shall we undertake the same at greatly reduced figures, and try to make it not only payable, but a very valuable asset to the community ? I will now show that a complete service of electric light and water can be supplied to the township at such a cost as will not increase the rates, but will in the near future, materially assist to reduce them. A loan of ,£4OOO or ,£SOOO would give us a valuable service of light and water through about three miles' of the most populous parts of the township at a cost per annum of less than for interest and working expenses, against the cost of producing the gas, viz., that is provided the sale of the byeproducts gave the company the coal for nothing, which is improbable, In Nelson they have installed gas and they now have to pay an addition to the rates as well as paying for the gas they use; and such, I have no doubt, would have been our case had the loan been carried. The dynamo for the electric light could be driven and the water pumped by the same oil engine, costing about much more economically than with a coke-gas engine, costing quite to place in position, as the difference in the interest would keep the oil engine in the necessary oil, and one practical electrician could manage both the driving of the dynamo and the pumping, whereas for the coke-gas engine it would require an engineer and an electrician as well. The saving would be per annum. For an example of the cheapness and efficiency of the electric light, we need only go to some of the mills or to the s.s. Himitangi; the electric plant in her, complete with driving power, cost only about ,£3OO, and will run 200 16-candle-power lights, which amount would go a long way towards lighting the Main street shops. As regards the cost to the consumer, it is fixed in some New Zealand townships at sixpence per unit, but in Sydney it has been so successful that they have reduced it 25 per cent., or from twopence to three-half-pence; that indeed must be a cheap light. But previous to erecting any engine house or pumping station, it would be necessary to determine what vater it is intended to be used .vhether from an artesian well or the river, for those are the only two sources that come within our means, as the water from the hills above Shannon is too far away, the cost of 20 miles of piping of the large size required to overcome the friction of running such a distance, being enormous. Consequently, the interest alone, without the working expenses, would be more annually than either the light or water will cost us in this scheme or more than halt sum now proposed to be borrowed. Some now propose that the unfiltered river water should be used tor fire purposes alone, but that would cost nearly as much as supplying the town with good water, and it would only be a charge upon the rates, instead of as I say, that if a service of good water for domestic use was supplied to the town, the revenue derived would not only pay the expenses, but would very soon give us a substantial profit which would go towards reducing the rates. Mr Martin, the well-sinker, says that there would be every probability of obtaining a good flow of water on the river bank just above high water mark near the ferry hill, and if that was successful there would be plenty of room for the erection of the necessary buildings on the site of the late mill that was burnt down, belonging to Mr Brewer, and close under the hill so that the water could be easily pumped to the top. On the railway line at Ke"cru there is a water-tank of 30.000 gallons, raised about 20 feet from the ground, but if one of 12.000 gallons was placed on the top of the ferry hill and raised about 12 feet above we should then have a pentiful supply of good water at an elevation ol over 50ft. above the level of the road in the centre of the township, with sufficient force, if the hose connected with hydrants were concentrated upon it, to put out any fire if only they were used in time, but should the fire have gained too great a hold on the building then a fire-, engine could be brought into play. The cost and natural efficiency of the fire-engine could be determined by what was left of the loan after the other works were completed. I need not dwell upon the

great benefit that the electric light, and more especially a good supply of water, would be to the township, as that is generally acknowledged, but I will conclude by repeating that should the two be cheaply and properly installed, such a source of revenue would be derived from the undertaking as to materially reduce the rates to the townspeople and that of itself, no doubt, is a great consideration and well worth the experiment. Thanking you for allowing me so much of your increasing valuable space,—l am, etc., Aquarius.