The Lighting Question.

Waipukurau Press, Volume I, 17 August 1906, Page 3

The Lighting Question.

—« — A NEW ISSUE INTRODUCED. A special meeting of the Waipukurau Town Board was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall last evening, for the purpose of fulfilling statutory requirements for the raising of the loan for £2OO for the installing six Kit son lights in the Town Board area. There were present — Commissioners W. A. Chambers (chairman), J. J. Bailey, J. Staines, J. Williams, C. W. Mitchell, E. Gore, and C. W. Seymour. After confirmatory motions had been carried, The Chairman said since they last met he had been to Wellington to see the 20th Century gaslight running, and he was much struck with its suitability for town lighting purposes. Inspection was made at a large residence at Johnsonville, where it had been running five months, and it had given every satisfaction from the start. The experience of the owner was that it was very cheap, and tailed with the estimate made by the Co.’s expert. Five lights running an average of four hours nightly, or twenty hours for the week, cost Is 4d, with petrol at Is 4d per gallon. The machinery was so simple that expert labour was not required ; and. as far as investigations had gone, insurance rates would not be affected. The gas was found to be much safer than coal gas, and had the distinct advantage of not burning except through its own burner. Besides which, there was no fear of suffocation should there be an escape of the gas. The following are portions of the correspondence received from the 20th Century Gas Co., and which were dealt with by the Chairman : Having carefully considered your town and from information we can gather we would suggest your adopting a modified plant complete, with hot air engine, carburetter, bellows, heaters and necessary adjunats, such as cocks, valves, etc., and which we would supply and fix for the sum of Ll5O at Waipukurau. In connection with this plant we would suggest the use of a gas-holder of a capacity of 2500 ft, say dimensions 18ft x lift x 10ft rise; erected cost, £l3O. Your Board to prepare the necessary foundations and make excavation if decided to put gas-holder partly underground. Lamp-posts to be supplied at a cost of L 3 15s each. We think it best to put this detail as per lamp, so that you can fix your own expenditure. It is estimated that L 560 15s would be required for piping for street, and Ll5O for laying pipes and necessary labour. With gas-holder and lamps required the total cost is L 1065 15s. Outside of these figures must be added cost of land and building for plant and interest for first period of loan.

Continuing the estimate made by the Company, he had gone carefully into the matter, making provision for extra pipes, land, buildings, foundation, interest, raising loan, larger mains, &r., and found that an adequate service could be installed for £l5OO. Upon calculation it was found that 105 lights at 4s per 1000 ft would give a profit of £229 13s 9d, and cost of street lighting by twenty lights of 100-candle power £9 IBs 3d, making a total income of £238 Bs. Expenses would be as follows: — Interest and sinking fund, £l2O ; supervision, £5O ; clerical work, £3*o; lighting lamps, £18: sundries, £lO ; cost of gas for streets £lO 9s, making a total of £238 Bs. A comparative statement was made between the 20th Century light and kerosene for one year, which showed the slight advantage of 2s 9d per light in favour of the gaslight. It was computed that one gallon of petrol would make 2700 ft of gas, costing at the rate of 6 2-3rd of a penny per 1000 ft to produce, with petrol at Is 6d. In the estimates which had been submitted the cost of petrol had been put down at Is per 1000, or nearly double the actual cost, and at 5s to the consumers, giving a profit of 4s to go against interest and other expenses. The Chairman estimated that 150 burners would give a nett profit over all expenses of £73 4s 6d, while 200 burners would give £162 2s profit, at the same time providing for the free street lighting of the town. All the estimates had been made so as to be on the safe side. He (Mr Chambers) contended that it was a wise step to consider this question of town lighting, and from .the many expressions he had heard favourable to the movement he was satisfied about the result. He was prepared to canvas the town and see how many would guarantee to take the light. A desultory discussion ensued in which all the Commissioners took part, and a number of minor points made clear. It was eventually decided that the Chairman go round with a list and secure the names of those who would take the gas, future action to be decided by this. The meeting then terminated.