STREET LIGHTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 59, 3 April 1909, Page 6

STREET LIGHTING.

'I o the Editor, i, ( ' orres l lo >i<l<'iit. "Hi ue St ft t Resident,- seems to he a little out in Ins reading oi the report of Council pro. eeedmgs, or he would have understood tliat the yearly adjustment of charges was being made. FroniHiino to time tne burgesses approach the Council, usuailv bv petition, for the installing of street lights; if granted, the Council authorises the Lighting Committee to instal the lights. The Council then becomes liable to a fixed yearly charge for light to the lighting department. The increased charges complained of is simply the adjusting of tlie extra number of lights granted during the year. The charge in New Plymouth averages £1 5s per annum less per lamp limn any other borough in the Dominion I with only one exception), thanks to our gravitation water power supply. For the information of your correspondent and the burgesses generally, I quote a few near home for comparison, viz.—New Plymouth, £2 Ids per annum for 32-c.p. lamps; Inglewood, £4 10s per annum for 32-c.p. lamps; Stratrord, £4 10s per annum for 32-c.p. lamps; Han-era, £3 (is 8d per annum for .32-c\p'. lamps; Pa tea, £3 per annum for 32-c.p. lamps. Re Liardet street: It is the practice"at all lighting stations to test the .ifu under weather conditions of new lamps fo'r street lighting. The lamps complained of are now undergoing the process, the extra current consumed not being charged for; and upon the report being satisfactory, the Council will be approached with a view to installing the metallic in place of the carbon lamps now used as street liglTts. Your correspondent could have quoted many more places in the town where, more lights are required. He, with other residents, has a proper method open to obtain them, viz., either by petition or by waiting upon the Council, and if good cause is shown such pctitioi is ccrla.il oi being granted. The Lighting Committee have no pOwras to instal any light not authorised by the Council. At any time a lamp censes to exist, as complained of, Oil a telephone message to tlie sub-station the renewal will at once be effected. The lamps, like gas mantles, are subject to terminate their lives suddenly, and your correspondent, who is able to calculate the consumption of watts per hour, should he fully acquainted with this fact, and the veas'fv ..of the discoloring of the lamps that he admits gave out 32-c.p. Unfortunately for the burgesses and your correspondent there is no part of an electrical undertaking that carries with it perpetual life.—l am. etc., (!. W. BROWNE, Chairman Lighting Committee.