ELECTRIC LIGHTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 38, 25 May 1910, Page 8

ELECTRIC LIGHTING

REVIEW OF THE YEAR'S OPERATIONS. J Mr. G. W. Browne, chairman of the Municipal Electric Light Committee, reported to the Borough Council last night as follows':— " In giving a resume of the year ending March 31, 11)10. it is with pleasure I have to again announce that the de-1 jpartment has fully justified expectn- ; tions, and the earnings exceeded the estimated amounts. In each case shillings and pence are omitted. p . - ! ,. REVENUE. £ Estimated revenue 4 >°°o Actual receipts *>^l9 Increase over last year 6811 EXPENDITURE. Actual expenditure to obtain this result:— _ | Wages' and salaries 050 j Materials and insurance 329 Interest 1',252 Net profit 1,477 Further profit on sales accounts makes the actual profit for the year 1)537 The earnings of the department ' ■from Jan. 17, 1900, to March f 31*, 1910, a period of 4 years and three months were 14,724 Giving a profit to date of 3,185 j The total receipts from loans on construction account were £20,008 15s Bd. COST OF THE WORKS. £ Actual cost of works and plant.. 14,475' Private lighting 7,890' Street lighting 3,270' £25,042 This leaves a balance of loan on! hand at March 31 of £ll7O 10s tkl.' against which there is a liability ofj £420, being the amount of the final payment on land acquired in Liardet street, leaving a balance of £750 16s 6d for future extensions. STREET LIGHTING. [During the year the street lighting was extended by the addition of six 32 j i c.p. incandescent lamps, and a change; over of 14 100 c.p. Osram lamps installed. I PRIVATE LIGHTING AND TOWER. In this department the year's increase! of connections amounts to 108, the num- j ber to date being 525, as against 417 at the beginning of the year. SALE OF CURRENT. The current disposed of during the 'year was:—Street lighting, 92,500 units; private lighting, heating and tower, 178,230 units; distribution losses', 30,680; total 307,410 units. THE PLANT. The whole of the plant is in good order, and giving every satisfaction. Spares to the value of £IOO were procured during the year. The whole of the poles have been attended to and tarred at earth line. I am pleased to say they are generally in excellent condition. The lamp brackets near the coast line show signs of being affected by s'alt water (two have lud to be renewed at a cost of 2s 6d each). It is pleasing to note that no breaks have occurred during the year. The staff are to be commended for their close atten-j tion to' duty and their readiness at all times if called upon. THE PROPOSED EXTENSIONS. During the year the Committee have hail under consideration further extending the plant, fully recognising that we have no reserve on hand with the large and increasing call for supplies. With this end in view the services of the borough and electric engineers, with Mr.i Climie as consulting engineer, were ob-| tained, and a scheme formulated and ap-' proved of, the estimated cost being £5137. The scheme consists of the fol-l lowing extensions:— New tail race, Tower House to Wai-I wakiho river. New settling chamber and rotary screws at pipe head'. New 48in. iplpe line from Tower House to pipe head, capable of serving two! new sets of 200 k.w. each. Removal of contraction at Mungahoe river. i Construction of weir at intake. The electrical engineer's estimate for the new set of 200 k.w capacity is£2ooo. This makes a total expenditure of £7167: j The completion of this scheme will increase the earnings of the department' up to £SCOO per annum. When required, an expenditure of £2500 on the second set would give a further earning power of £4OOO per an-j num. I The freehold of land required for new tail race has been acquired. ! The scheme, as outlined, lends Itself to being carried out in two sections. The expenditure may be spread over a period of two to three yearn The first 1 section, entailing an expenditure ot £4025, is that part of the scheme from pipe head to tail race discharge at river; and the second Section, embracing the weir at intake and Mungamahoe contraction, the estimated cost being £2512. The sum of £476 is allowed for contingencies, and spread over the two amounts. At this stage, I may be permitted to' suggest a means of financing the scheme, without going to the people for a loan or increasing the interest bill. To carry out the first section the sum of £4025 is required. At March 31, 1909. the department had a cash credit, after deducting liabilities on loan account of £750 lfis fid, and in the general fund of £1097 19s sd. At this stage Cr. Bellringer raised the point that the resume was touching on matters of finance, which should first of all come before the committee. Cr. Browne asked for the ruling of the Mayor, and, at the latter's suggestion, he agreed that the balance of the report should go to the committee.