THE GERALDINE LAMPS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1612, 26 July 1887, Page 2

THE GERALDINE LAMPS.

TO THE EEITOR. Sir, —With your permission I would like to say a word or two about the street lamps in Geraldine. I happened to be in that town the other night, and fully expected the lamps in the streets would ba lighted, so I thought I would like to take a stroll through the town, but to ray surprise I found it all in darkness. When I got near to the Bush Inn I mot a gentleman J knew, so I asked him how it was the lamps where not alight. He said; "They are supposed to be lit long before (his lira* at night, but maybe you did not look for < the lights.” “ What, look for the 1 lights ! I thought the lamps when lit ' up would show themselves.” “ Yes,” ' my friend said, “ they are supposed to ( do,- but they don’t; in fact, if you are not ( particular in looking when you pass i them you cannot see the lights at all. The fact is, they are r°ry little benefit ' to anybody but the lamp-lighter. I ' have mentioned the matter tr one or I

wo of i b p members of the Town Board, l>u' they gel. over ft by saying it is the 1 Overseer's place to look after it ; he’s paid to eee to that, So the work is

neglected. There is scarcely a night passes but several of the lights go out before they have been lit two hours.” Bo I said to my friend : “ How do you account for thats ? ” He said : “ The man who lights the lamps is afraid of an explosion I think, so he only puts but a very little oil in the lamps, and just turns up the wick sufficient to keep it burning when the wind is very still. •Of course ii the wind blows we don’t V expect any lights ; they go out at once, and if it rains that puts them out. So between the excuses of the Board members, the Overseer, and the lamplighter we have to grope about in the dark at night as best wo can.” So I suggested to my friend that the townspeople should call a public meeting at once, and know who is responsible, and why the Board is spending so much of the ratepayers’ money for such miserable so-called lights. Well, sir, I bopeysu will have better lights in the town when I call here again; Good-night.— Yours, etc,, Visitor. Ashburton, July 22, 1887.