LIGHTING OF SPOTSWOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1922, Page 5

LIGHTING OF SPOTSWOOD.

BOROUGH COUNCIL’S OFFER. FAVORABLY RECEIVED. The proposals of the New Plymouth Borough Council regaiding the provision of electric light and power for the Spotswood district were explained last night by the electrical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley), who accompanied the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) and Councillors J. Brown and ; R. A. Large to a meeting of residents of the district. The meeting was held in the residence of Mr. D. J. Hughes, who occupied the chair. Mr. Bartley, before setting out the council’s offer, said that the question of lighting Spotswood had originated with a petition from the residents asking the council to extend the lighting service to their district. That petition had been signed by over 50 persons, but he had based the figures which he later put before the meeting on 48 coneumers taking the power. The council had gone carefully into the costs of laying a main, taking into consideration not only present requirements, but also the requirements of the area in the near future, when more houses would be built, and the main they proposed laying would be big enough to supply the additional residences. The main consideration in doing such work from the council’s point of view was that it must show some prospect of returning sufficient money to pay in a reasonable time for the cost of erection. The council realised that at a future date power would also be extended to Omata, and in his estimates he had provided for the laying of a cable to Spotswood of a heavier type than the district actually required. Such a cable would be necessary, however, when the power was extended to Omata, but the Spotswood residents would be debited only with the cost of a lighter cable, although the heavier one was laid.

To supply Spotswood and Barrett Road up as far as Mr. Nash’s place would cost £1649, and to make the installation pay the return must be 25 ‘per cent, per year for five years. The council asked for £320 annually from the district, and if 48 consumers were supplied that would work out at approximately £7 per annum each, or payable in’ monthly instalments Us Sd per house. The position simply put, Mr. Bartley said, was that each consumer, if he guaranteed to pay that amount per month, could rely on his electric light bill being a minimum of 11b 8d per month. His meter would be read and he would receive the bill in the ordinary way, but the minimum charge would be marked on it. If a consumer was found to be using more than Ils 8d worth of power he could pay for it according to his consumption in the same manner as residents of the town and at the same rates. Mr. Bartley added that an average house of five or six rooms would return £5 10s per year to the council. The £7 had to Ibe'charged in order to pay for the capital cost. His figures did not include the actual lighting installation in the houses, which had 11 lie borne by the proprietor and were his property, but. they included the carrying of the wires to 60 feet from t 1 e main towards the house. The counc’l. provided that amount free and any distance beyond would have to be borne by the consumer at approximately 38 s per chain. The lighting of a 7 or S roomed house could be done for approximately £8 15s, the first expense being the last. Answering Mr. Hughes, Mr. Bartle.y said lie tiiouglit that the minimum charge to be debited against each consumer should be worked out on a proportion basis according to the number of lights each would have. The council did not care what each man paid so long as they received the total of £320 from the district, while if, later on, more houses went up and they wanted electricity, they would have to come in on the guarantee which the council would be prepared to consider as the amount each of the previous signatories had agreed to pay. The Mayor remarked that the work was already authorised, subject to the guarantee being signed. He urged those present not to lose any time in making up their minds as to whether they wanted the power, as, if the council's offer were declined, they couid easily dispose of their power elsewhere. On the call of Mr. Hughes those present signified their willingness to s-.un the guarantee. Mr. C. Parker remarking that he considered that the conned bad been very considerate and generous to them 1 A number of guarantee forms were left ami an endeavor to be made to have them signed so that work can commenced immediately after the holii days.