GENEROUS GIFT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 976, 20 May 1930, Page 14

GENEROUS GIFT

FLOOD-LIGHTING FOR MEMORIAL MUSEUM POWER BOARD’S OFFER The Auckland Electric-Power Board will supply and erect the plant for the flood lighting of the War Memorial Museum and Cenotaph free of charge. The cost is approximately £l,lOO. In a report submitted at yesterday’s meeting of the board, the general manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley, said that suggestions had been sought from companies specialising in flood lighting, as it was felt that the illumination of such a building as the museum required careful handling. A sketch showing the effect that would be gained from the adoption of the approved design was submitted. “The scheme aimed at is to silhouette sharply the structure against the sky and, in, turn, silhouette the cenotaph against the building. Care has been taken to make the source of the light as inconspicuous as possible and, for this purpose, the floods are carried on ornamental standards erected to a height of 18 feet from the ground level, the floods themselves being concealed in ornamental lanterns,” Mr. Bartley said. “There are six of these standards in all, and every one carries two lanterns glazed with a fairly heavy diffusing glass. Every projector is fitted with a 1,500-watt lamp, and the panels of these lamps will be illuminated with small 60-watt lamps, to produce the effect of an ordinary lighting fitting, thus offering no suggestion of projectors being contained therein. “The light intensity on the museum is hot great, being approximately only 3ft. candles, but it is considered that this is ample for a dignified illumination, and suggests nothing in the way of advertising or theatricality in its conception. I estimate the total cost of the work at approximately £1,100.” The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth. said the idea would add considerably to the impressiveness of the building. A member suggested that though the board had made the museum a gift of the plant, there was no guarantee that power would be consumed. The chairman stated that the proposed plan, which was approved by the meeting, would be submitted to the Museum Council with an approximate estimate of the cost of maintenance. The position would thus be made clear.