THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1916 LIGHTEN OUR DARKNESS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 193, 21 July 1916, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1916 LIGHTEN OUR DARKNESS.

"We nothing extenuate, nor let down auaht in malice."

The dismal appearance of i'ukekohc at night time is generally admitted to be both a reproach to the community and out of all kfeping with the otherwise progressive character of the township. The existing state of things is endured by residents, who gradually become accustomed to their gloomy surroundings and are content to livo in hopes that the evolution of time will bring about a change, but the visitor to l'ukekobe always voie.es his amazement that when dusk arrives the towr, as regards lighting, is little better than a backblock setilement. Indeed, as frequently claimed by Cr Koadley at the Council meetings, Pukekohe for its srxe is probably the worst lighted town in the whole of the Dominion. The Council that het held office made an attempt to institute a lighting scheme and a proposed loan of £IO,OOO for the installation of a municipal g&B works was submitted to the ratepayers in February of last year. That the project was defeated on the loan poll was in no way due to any flaw in the scheme itself, but to the recognised fact that a sum cf £IO.OOO would only suffice for lighting a restricted area, and that a much larger outlay would be necessary before gas mains would find their way all over the borough. Now, however, thanks to Cr Roadley's persistence and to ths trouble he has gone to in making himself acquainted with lighting schemes in several towns of more or less similar size, the Borough Council propose to give the ratepayer* the opportunity of approving ol the adoption of electric light as a means of street and house illumination. Whilst gas lias certain advantages, particularly fjr domestic purposes, electric light similarly has facilities which probably outweigh the merits of gas, but more especially in a borough ot such extensive area as I'ukekohc the superior feature of electric light is tbat cables could be extended to every part of the borough and lighting provided everywhere at a cost that would not exceed Hie £IO,OOO suggested for «■;:»« for a limited radius. The Council t> night is to consider alternative

schemes drafted by Mr Fenn, who j has been retained as Advisory Engineer, the instructions given him having been to submit propcaals fir an icitial lighting installation for the more populous part cf the town and also for the borough aa a whole. Prcb2bly the Council's choice will fall on the former as bnng more likely to be favoured by the ratepayers at lirst ed that with an object lesson ot succesß achieved a larger loan would be cheerfully voted for to carry Hie light to every home within the borough. There iB every indication that electric lighting as suggested will secure the ratepayers' approval, and wc would urge that a loan poll for the same shculd stand on its own merits ar.d should not

torm part a scheme also covering water and reading propoail', on which public opinion may not be so united. It is true that the original suggestion ftr electric light was for advantage to be taken of the machinery at the existing water power statior, which in the event of Hickcy's Dam being utilised aa the source of supply of water, would be available for use. If this is adhered to, however, it would mean tbat in the event of the water loan being "turned down" electric lighting would be as tar distant as ever. It, on the other hand, electric lighting was made a separate issue and a sum included to cover the purchass of the full machinery required for its installation no uncertainty would arise as to its fate, and then if the water loan was also carried the electric light loan before being taken up could be reduced by the amount allocated for new macbin-