MUNICIPAL ELECTRICAL WOHKS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 198, 19 August 1904, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ELECTRICAL WOHKS.

The important question of the Auckland City Council taking up the work of supplying electrical power, and al&o lighting the city, was again raised at the meeting o! the Corporation last night, when Councillor .lohn Court moved: "That the Electrical Engineer, Mr Henry, report to thU Council the cost per unit at, which electrical power tor lighting aud other purposes can bo supplied to the city, either by installing ike necessary plant at or near Urury, or within the city." He referred to the fact that this matter had previously been before tlie Council, but sa,d lie was not batistied to let it rest on .Mr Goodman's report. They should remember that Mr (joodman based his calculations upon the assumption that the coal would cost about 15/ per ton. .Now, he understood that by going to Drury they could get c.al for met at about 5/ per ton. and would therefore even on the former calculation make il 10,000 a year if the pystein was adopted. In "the Old Country large returns were realised in the face of great competition, and he felt it was time the Auckland City Council took definite action in the matter. From time to time applications had been received to supply electric light from ■the power-house of the Tramway Company. These applications had been invariably refused, and rightly so, but sooner or later something would have to be done by the Council to further this matter, either by putting up works at Drtiry. where cheap coal could be got, or utilising the power from the refuse destructor to generiite electricity for the city. If the latter was not sutlicient, then other works could be put up at Drury.

Mr M. Casey seconded the motion, lie did not tlnuk they knew \vli*t a big .thing this supplying electric power really ■was. The Couuc-il should first exhaust its own supply at the destructor before going- to jjrury fur more. Still, he strongly favoured having a report from 2Ur Henry upon ilie matter. Mr Bagnall said it would be necessary ito refer the matter to a committee to draw up facts as to what the city required, in order to enable a proper report to be yiveJi. Dr. Sharman suggested that this mojtion be referred to the Streets Committee. Mr VV. Hutchinson was pleased the Council was going l ' J move in this matter, seeing how long tliev had refused to allow oil.eis to lake it up. The Council, of course, had acted rightly in not allowing another monopoly to be built up. Jt was time the matter was gone into with energy. Mr J. MeLeod also supported the motion. Mr Court said he was not satisfied With the previous report, because it seemed to throw cold water upon the idea of the Council supplying eleetri«.al power at all. They should uo that themselves. The Council could do it cheaper than the Gas Company. He was told a Company was about to be formed at D:ury to [ml, up electrical \\o. - kj, but he ■w'sheJ th*» Council <<> bo lir.-t in the iii hi. Tiuy must cither iiirnisli electi .-ill power <. v let other* do it. At the pn-sent Hi.- , city vrm iia,ying C2OOO a y< nr for ligh*iuy the i-'wts with g,is. That could be more c'scapiy done with el-'i'trifiiy. _ A«5 .Mr Court agreed to !\ave tlie inoti in r<.-i"erred to ine Srreet l -- Commit;-.! , , tl at courric was agreed 10 by the CounciL

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