LIGHTS OF DEVONPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 280, 24 November 1915, Page 4

LIGHTS OF DEVONPORT.

THE RIVAL lli T Jl_lsA_rjj'7 ELECTRIC LIGHTS TO BE TRIED. COCXCn. WOOED BY TWO FLAMES. The ordinary meeting of the Devonport Borough Council was attended list night by the Deputy-Mayor (Me. J. Hen. derson). presiding, and Messrs. J, 4Walker, P. W. McCallum, a J. Smith W. S. Stone, J. P. Wright, W. IL-Howitt; and A. Nixon. The Council considered the relative merits of the proposals submitted by th_ ■ Gas Company and by the Electric Snpplr Corporation for such further strej* lighting as was deemed to be desirable! The Electricity Company forwarded a letter of protest against the action sf the Council in receiving a further tender from the Gas Company regarding streetlights. The latter, it was suggested, __j „ just begun to consider the possible reduction in charges, whereas the former claimed to have taken aH the circumstances into consideration, and to have submitted a final tender fa -the firtt; , piace. Mr. McCallum supported the protest, and submitted that the question should be considered without reference to tis last offer of the Gas Company. :■:■ Mr. Walker said that both companies had varied their original offers, and that no binding tenders had been made. The. Council was justified in-trying to get the best terms it could for. the borough. PROTEST AGAINST MONOPOLY. Mr. Henderson reviewed the .-whole position, and the respective offers of the two' companies. The Gas Company's offer involved lights of greater candlepower, than had hitherto .been supplied, and at less cost. The company offered ; further concessions if the Council wooM decide in favour of gas lights, alone. Mr. Nixon remarked that tie Gu 1 Company had become very generous tine* the electricity company had been estib-: lished. He would oppose any cqneessisu to the former at the expense of fti latter. The Council must remember that the electric light company had been authorised to start by the vote of the people. Personally he had been opposed to the entrance of the company", (bivisg. always been an advocate of municipal control), but now that it had come in, the Council must be fair to-it. Be strenuously opposed the idea of-grring tbe Gas Company a monopoly. Other councillors expressed siinnar views. ; j . 7' LET BOTH LIGHTS SHESE. Mr. Walker was of opinion that theCouncil was not yet in possession of: sufficient information to come to a definite decision between gas and electridty. The new gas lamps were very much better than any that had ever been in tfceborough before, but there was no gnii*anteethat the standard would be maintained. Electricity should be given a trial. He moved that when new lamps were required electric lights of 100 c.]L, half-watt,, he installed,, twelve:,., electric lamps be place of gas lamps 7 This, he submitted';- .wonM give-suffieientirlata for-.the Gouncilio ; go on when reviewing.the position uttia end .of the financial year. - ■-•'-" '" Mr. McCallum seconded the motion. Mr. Wright, in supporting it, said tilt it appeared to.him that fjas would hire been more economical, and this "appeilej to him in the present circumstance. He: resented the attempt of the Gas Company to impose a condition which imphei: monopoly, however, and. the" proposal: made by Mr. Walker. Would' ..fire the Council the information it needed...-7-7 The motion was adopted unanmoualy. AT THE BOROUGH GATEWAY. The present condition of the roadway between the Esplanade and the wharf is unsatisfactory, in the opinion of Artworks Committee. This judgment wis arrived at after an inspection of thai portion of Marine Square facing the wharf, and the Committee recommended: that the engineer furnish a report as to the best method to effect improvemait THE ECONOMY OF BIG SCHEMES. 7: The engineer (Mr. Lockie Gannon) reported that he had gone into the question of concrete flagging for footpaths,!* susreested by a member of the Council Whilst recognising its permanency as compared with that of tar, he could not recommend the borough to lay concrete flagging unless permanent levels were worked to, or the proposed road improvement scheme proceeded with. Fur ; the ordinary repairs carried out in the . ■present financial conditions the:■ better class of .work was inadvisable.!" permanent work could be better earned out on a comprehensive scale, involving much timbering and many moulds, and the greater the Work the cheaper the cost would be per square yard. The gineer insisted upon the importance oi the point relating to permanent levels. WIND AND DUSTY ROADS. The engineer commented upon th« present system of watering the ""J* roads, with salt water from two 2,00° gallon tanks filled by the aid of : a windmill on the -waterfront. In win* weather instructions were given for the watering of King Edward Parade and of "Victoria Road to the picture theatra The horses ■ were taken at-a moment 1 ! r.ot;ce from other works, and there was. unavoidable dislocation. The water cart had a capacity of 530 gallons. The windmill required adjusting; the tank capacity was insufficient, and the approach to the discharge pipe j required to be levelled. If the rowis <o| the higher levels were to be watered, a receiving tank would have to he erected in a suitable position", and provision would have-to be made for pomp" ing. The matter was referred to and Works Committee for consider?-** 1 ?