Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News SATURDAY, JULY 22 1903. ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42751, 22 July 1905, Page 2

Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News

SATURDAY, JULY 22 1903. ELECTRIC LIGHT.

I his above all—to thine own self be true, And it must follow as the night the dag Jhou cansi not then be false to any man Shakespeare.

Ix view of the fact that the Council is about to instal a system of electric lighting, it will perhaps bo well to review the situation, especially as some comments havo been heard from diffei ent quarters regarding the alleged failure of electricity xor street lighting. The warning published in bold udvertisment in our contemporaries applies truly to any large town where coal-gas or water-gas is available for use with the incandescent mantle—there is now no doubt that this is at present the premier light for street illumination, excelling the electric light in biilliance aud running it very closely ;u the matter of cost. This fact has been undoubtedly established by municipal bodies in England, both through the tests of experts, and by ocular demon stration to the public, who have, in various cities, seen swept away after five years or less of service, numbeis of electric arc lamp standards which have been replaced by incandescent gas lamps, the change being accompanied by a wonderful increase in illuminating power. But the foregoing is a question of electric are lamps in comparison with gas, and the question which concerns our town is the superority of electric incandescent lights over kerosene. The wonderful improvements which havo of late been effected m electric incandescent lamps, has further helped to bring that system into requisition for street lighting. At the same time taking into consideration the happy experience of other townships which until lately were in the same position as we at present find ourselves,, surely the new light must prove to us a great boon. Its adaptability to the requirements of small power users is another recommendation. Nor do we need to outlay money on sets of engines and boilers, for there on the hill-side, day and night, is a constant supply of energy, only wait ing to be directed to its work in the rio-ht way to produce uselectiic current at a price which should compare very favourably with that of much larger installations. Apart from considerations which effect the residents, there is the additional charm which this light, when properly utilised, can impart to the Domain in the evening, and which cannot fail to still further add to Te Aroha’s power of attracting tourists from all parts. This is work which, in view of the recent masterly im provements and devolpment of the Domain, wo can rely upon the Government Tourist Department to carry out in a thoroughly eflicieut and suitable manner. By all means, therefore, let us anxiously await the completion _of our electric lighting scheme, which will add so much to ithe general comfort and welfare of the town.