ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 213, 8 September 1899, Page 6

ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

At the meeting of the City Council last evening the Mayor (Mr D. Goldie) stated that he had sent the folio.ving letter to the Premier on ihe subject of electric lighting: —

"August 14, IS',)!), lion R. .1. Seddon, Welli g;'lon, .Now Zealand. Dear Sir,— When you wore ir. Auckland some time ago, you will remember that a deputation from the Auckland CityCouncil waited upon you with respect to giving to boroughs the right to arrange with outsiders to introduce the electric light. You, I think, said that if such were done the interests of Ihe ratepayers musi '.c safeguarded yo the fullest extent. it of course Aye do not object to. ■ do not mind what safeguards you adopt, so long as the people are protected fully. We should be glad if you Id insert a clause or tAvo in some ill, giving us and other boroughs tin right to make such an arrangement. is important that we should have such a power as *,_Me.aily as possible, as a number of private firms are putting it on themselves. This of course will lessen our profits, in the future. We do not want to undertake the. Avork ourselves, as our hands are more than full at present, In Adelaide they let the concessions for 10 years, with great advantage lo the Council. Could not the clauses bo inserted in the Wellington Electric Lighting Bill." To that letter the Premier had replied as under:—"Premier's Office, Wellington, August 31, 1899. Dear Mr Goldie,—l am duly in receipt of your letter of 14th inst., which I have perused with interest, and Avill be pleased to do what I can in reference to the matter, but I may as Avell tell you that I am afraid there will be little or no chance ol getting any legislation on the subject llirougn tho House.—With kind wishes. I am, your faithfully, 1!. J. Seddon. D. Goldie, Esq., Auckland.

The Mayor also mentioned that In England a new luminant was being exploited, in the shape of water gas. The gas could be produced for about one-third the cost of coal gas, and the plant used for its manufacture wan also much cheaper to procure than the coal gas plant. Water gas was being used in Leicester, and was to be introduced in Dunedin. The matter was well worth looking itiio.

The Council approved the action of the Mayor, further consideration of the matter being deferred.