LIGHTING FOR SHANNON.

Shannon News, 21 June 1921, Page 2

LIGHTING FOR SHANNON.

ELECTRICAL PROPOSAL TO RE> INVESTIGATED.

Farther progress in the adoption ol' a temporary lighting scheme tor Shannon was made at the Borough Council meeting on Friday evening, when the Lighting Committee repined as follows.: — Your committee, as per instructions from the Council at last meeting, lias examined into two propositions lor lighting, viz.: (1) Linking up with Mr Mr McMillan’s plant, and (2) benzine system.

regard to the benzine lantern system, we have given the lantern a further trial, and found it so far satisfactory as regards power of light, and burning without any further attention once it has been set going. Tfie weakness in these lanterns is the difficulty of keeping them in good working order under unfavourable conditions, such as wet, boisterous weather. We gleaned information from several sources where these lamps have been used under boisterous weather conditions, and found that unless they received very careful attention they have inevitably given trouble. Under these conditions your committee thinks that it. would not be advisable to instal them.

(2) Linking up with Mr McMillan’s plant: Your committee has interviewed Mr McMillan on the question, and ffom the information received from him has the following facts to place before* the Council: The Council to supply benzine and oil for four or live hours’ running per day to allow the lights to be burned at might and 1o supply man to operate. The cost of running for benzine and oil would be about 20s per day, labour about 20s per.day. Iu addition there is the charge for wear and tear ol engine, which, so far, Mr Mill an has been unable to give us; besides this must be added repairs, interest on. loan, overhauls, insurances, shed for housing, battery, and brick building for storing benzine. It will be seen from the above that the cost ol running of any temporary system of electric light for a small borough must of necessity be high. If the Council decides to go on with an electric scheme, before Mangahao power is available, then the commhtee strongly favours the Council pulting in its own plant for the following reasons: —

■ (!) That the plant will be abso lately ' under'the control of the Conn cil and on the Council’s own property. (2) That sufficient power can be generated to supply the houses as well as the streets. (2 That the running cost will be ma terially reduced if sufficient householders will instal the light. In conclusion, your committee recommends: That the Borough Council be asked to prepare an estimate oi the cost of an electric light installation for the borough, power being derived from an oil or suction gas engine, and when this report is re reived, a special meeting of the Council be called to fully consider the lighting question. In behalf of the Lighting Committee.—J. H. Fargher, Edwin Butt aim E. .1. S. Spencer. Cr. Fargher, in presenting the report, said the committee was unanimous that the scheme should be adopted now or dropped. The matter should nol he deferred. If the Council had surplus power it coulu easily be disposed of. The Mayor agreed with the report, and said if the Council took it in hand now light would be available in about four months. Cr. Gardner stated that lie had seen a representative of Turnbull and Jones, the electrical engineers, who had said that the town could he lighted with an outlay' of between £JUiL or £4OOO. A representative of the linn was willing to come up an i discuss the matter with the Council. Cr. Richardson asked if it was IMudy that the Mangahao scheme would be available quite as soon as a local scheme. The Mayor said that a, local scheme could be put in in a comparatively short time —much sooner than Mangaliao. Cr. Butt agreed with the suggestion that the Council take action as soon as possible, and not defer the matter. The Mayor moved that .the borough engineer lie asked to meet the representative of Turnbull and Jones to consider the lighting question, in conjunction with the Lighting Committee. . Cr. Richardson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. dp»*>■