Duplicating the Electric Light.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43221, 29 August 1907, Page 2

Duplicating the Electric Light.

At the eouucil meeting last night, Cr. Hubbard, in speaking to his notice of motion, said ; Your Worship and Gentlemen, —In speaking of the motion before you, my figures are personally copied from the engineer’s report, but that does not prevent me taking a commonson.se and business-life view of the matter in hand, viz., that this Council take the necessary steps to raise a loan of £I,OOO, or any sum required to supplement the now existing electric plant. In moving this resolution, I wish.to point out the fact that at the present time there are many applications for light to be installed and would he more did the residents not know they cannot bo supplied. This might in some measure bo obviated by the adoption of the meter system, which I should most strongly advise the Council to adopt. The present plant, according to our engineer, and as far as I can observe, is in good order, hut like any other machinery is liable to break down at any time ; in such case it would be weeks and perhaps months before new parts could he obtained. The position the Couucil would then he in is patent to all, hence the desirability of duplicating the same at a probable cost of £I,OOO, which I feel is amply warranted by the experience of the past year, and highly necessary to reassure the consumers. If this Council place .the electric account on a satisfactory basis, creating a reserve fund to meet depreciation of plant and other contingencies, confidence would be at once established and little difficulty experienced to raise the necessary funds, ijothdo liquidate the present overdraft belonging,.to the electrical account and new plant. % As my motion says any sum required, I should recommend the Council to take into serious consideration that part of the engineer s report referring to the production of motive power for sale,' four gentlemen in the town having expressed their willingness to employ the same. The use of njotive power is increasing and in the near future the Council will have to limit, if not discontinue, _ the water licenses, and the fact that there is a large amount of power going to waste eight months in the year deserves consideration, the probable cost being' about £1,10(3. It might not be necessary to do this part of the work at once; but in taking a vote of the ratepayers it would be easy to place the matter before them in two separate issues at the same time, and if carried the second part could bo proceeded with us soon as circumstances warranted. In conclusion, gentlemen, if it is not intended to duplicate the plant, spare parts must be procured at once at probably a cost of £H)O to safeguard the present consumers. As costs of wear and tear, profit and expenditure is dealt with by the electrician it is unnecessary for me to report them, especially as I. could not in many cases verify them. I may state that the electrician would be pleased if the Council had them checked by a competent man. I have every confidence in moving the motion.

Or. Hubbard said that some ratepayers had promised to support the proposal up to £3OOO. Lie was in favour of the council getting a man to check the electrician’s report as sug osted, ajid that they hold a special meeting to consider the items seriatim, and consult with the electrician aud the engineer to be appointed. The motion which was carried is as follows ; That the necessary ste os be taken to borrow £3OOO at a rate of interest not exceeding 5 per cent, for the ter n of 20 years, to purchase material to duplicate certain portions of the electrical generating plant.” It was resolved that a special meeting of the council be held to go into details preparatory to calling a public meeting. Messrs Stewart and Fenn were, ap pointed to report on the Electrician’s scheme.