ELECTRIC LIGHTING

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 459, 21 March 1919, Page 4

ELECTRIC LIGHTING

•pukekohe District Scheme BOROUGH COUNCIL'S PBOPOSALS The proposal for the country districts around Pukekohe to he supplied with electric current from Pukekohe was further dealt with at the meeting of the Borough Council last Wednesday, when the following report was presented by the Lighting Committee, viz "The Council having requested the Lighting Committee to furnish a report on future requirements for the Borough, taking into consideration the agitation set

up by the adjoining districts to be connected in view of the Government action in connection with tho hydro electric high tension lines; your committee have,given the matter serious attention and submit the following report. It must by now be well understood the great advantages to those living in the country and outlying districts of electrical; power, and in order that these districts may eventually have the advantage of connection with the Government scheme, we propose to offer them the opportunity of linking up with our system, for which provision can bo made until such a time as the Government scheme bocomes available. Before proceeding with this scheme v?o propose with the consent of the Council to ask a representative from each of the following districts to form a Power Board, viz : Wainku and the ridings embracing Patumahoe, Mauku, Buckland, Tuakau, Bombay and Drury, the Lighting Committee, assisted by tho valuable advice of our Engineer, to represent the Council. If the representatives of the outlying districts are favourable to the scheme then to approach the Franklin County and ask them to assist in defraying the expenses of a report, and to get a report from a consulting engineer. After a report i? obtained the representatives ro the Power Board to place the proposal before their ratepayers and endeavour to obtain their consent to a loan to defray expenses of connection with our system. Your Committee cannot give any reliable estimate of the cost at the present momont not as yet knowing the requiremeits of the outlying districts and to arrive at this it will rpquire a r-port from a consulting electrical engineer. As regards the borough of Pukekohe we as a Council are pledged to put forward proposals to electrify the wholo of tho Borough and for this purpose wo shall have to ask the ratepayers for a further loan. This wo shall have to do whether the surrounding districts mme in or not, but if they decide to link up with us it may slightly increase the cost of alterations to our power house, which should in time return a fair profit to the Borough." Speaking regarding tho benefits that would be derived by the whole district if tho scheme was adopted Cr Barter (chairman of tho Lighting Committee) said that there was not tho slightest doubt that the outlying district?, as referred to in the report, would have no chance in the Government scheme if they were not already linked up by some existing scheme. Tf they were linked up they would be more certain of being supplied by the Government scheme. The Council, ho added, could very well supply the outlying districts with power, and ho suggested that who ever was in power at the Council's table when the matter was finally considered, they should not let it drop. It was a big matter for the Borough of Pukekohe and tho outlying districts, and in his opinion it should not be lost right of. The Mayor (Mr H. G. R. Mason): We should not let it go to sleep oven if we are near the end of our term,

Cr Stcmbridgc said the Council already had two r three applications from outside districts, and lie thought each district should send a delegate to the Council to discuss the proposal in conference,

Cr Hamilton suggested approaching Hie Franklin County Council on the matter. Cr Barter did not think it a wise policy for the Borough Council itself to approach the County Council, but thought itretter to approach them with delegates from outside, some of whom, he hoped, would ho members of the County Council. Cr Armstrong remarked that they could approach the riding members of the County Council, and if the scheme appealed to them they could then go b-fore the County Council. The Lighting Comm;lto>', lie said, i'jlr that Tii-ik.'iu should bo included on tii» Bo«.rd. They also felt that they sh >ulrt embrace the area from Mer 'f,r to Fapakura, and have representatives from ihicli centro on the boa id. Cr Barter said as far as the completion of the Borough lighting silieme was concerned, they would !• ive to raise a special loan. The Mayor mentioned that if a IWer Hoard was formed it would have c iiittol of the di.strict outside nt the J! .rough, but the Borough wi.uld still manage its own affairs. Cr Barter: We could withdraw fi'oiii the Power Board altogether as «'i >ii n.s i: w;v in--ti!ut.' d. 'i'li.- M'.y.r th-vi proposed that the i-V :' !••' i:d..p*"l. and that the 1.-i;t:i: r : r :i;:.■::-.■ I e nurh. ri«ed to i.ri.irg" f i ,| ci.l;f. n-:,i 0 i:f delegates I'm,III 1. :•! !, iflio. iiild OUNido l'-ist- ' ic- : . rin '. t i obtain ;i consulting : ii.•; .1 .■)':, lidvi.e >,\\ the in ittar This \\ as agreed to.