THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1642, 24 March 1884, Page 2

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Some interesting details came out at the annual meeting of the Australasian Electric Light, Power, and Storage Company on January Uth, says the "European Mail," In the first place, it appears that the electric light has not proved any more profitable in the colomes than at home, but the shareholders did well in deciding to give the company a further trial. Sir Julius Vogel, it will be remembered, went out in the interests of this company, and he was paid the nice little sum of ten guineas a day for his expenses. For the amount of work done a good many of the shareholders think that the late Agent General and Premier of New Zealand was paid more than was either necessary or desirable, bearing in mind the financial position of the company, but Mr Randolph Want, the chairman, informed the shareholders that he considered £6O a week was not at all extravagant for a gentleman in Sir Julius Yogel's position. We further learn that negotiations are now going on for an amalgamation with the Australian Electric Company. This is in every sense desirable, as it will relieve the ruinous competition at present existing between the two companies. Even if they do not amalgamate, terms of workon a co-operative basis are to be arranged. The Company are on the point of sending out a stock of plant for the purpose of lighting theatres and printing offices in • the colonies. The directors seem at last to have woke up to the fact that, at the inception of the company, too large a sum was paid for the Brush patents, but they take no blame for having effected the purchase, and put all the responsibility on the shareholders themselves, It "was su<* gested that a committee should be appointed to confer with the directors on matters relating to the company, but the Chairman, as an alternative proposal, suggested that the shareholders should appoint two of their number to join their board, This was decided upon, one of the gentleman selected being Mr Hammond.