Electric Light for Milton.

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 21, 17 March 1919, Page 5

Electric Light for Milton.

AN UNSATISFACTORY PROPOSAL,

HALF THE BOROUGH EXCLUDED FROM HOUSE LIGHTING.

A special meeting of Milton Borough Council was held on Friday evening to hear the Mayor's report on • the conference with Dunedin City Council dele* gates regarding electric light and power for Milton. There were present the Mayor, Crs Henderson, Holliok, Kirby, Fleming and Hitchon. The Mayor remarked that the City Council was out for a business proposition, and was not prepared to give thing away. It was proposed that tho eleotrio supply should be brought across the head of Waihola Lake to the phos phate works at Clarendon, thence across country to the hill above the Mil burn lime works, thence along the back road past Messrs Hewitt and J. Paul's pro* perties, past Elderlee farm, and reaching the borough at the flour mill. Pros* poctive consumers along the main road to Milburn were thus cut out, The light would not be extended to Tokoiti, neither would residential lighting be available for Beveral streets within the borough—(on the plan and estimates of the reticulation proposed by the City Council). anything required beyond their proposal would be charged extra, This did not give the Borough Council a fair chance for its guarantee of £4OO per annum; the Council would require the whole town reticulated for private consumption. The present proposed reticulation would also cost the Borough Council £1134, repayble in ten.years by interest and sinking fuud. The cost of street lighting would be £3 per annum for 365 nights' lighting. The City engineer had offered to attond a Council meeting, and supply further information. Desultory discussion ensued on ,the unsatisfactory nature of the City Counn oil's proposals, It was decided to hold a special meeting to-morrow (Tuesday) afternoon, the city electrical engineer to be invited to attend.

The Mayor intimated that the firm 3 interested had practically accepted the City Council's proposals, and electricity would be extended to Milton with or without the Council's co-operation. This was the Borough Council's opportunity; they would have no other phance.

A oareful perusal of tho draft plan prepared by the Dunedin City Council shows that though electric lighting will be provided where every lamp.post within the borough is now situated, only certain streets will be provided with current for private consumption. These streets are as follows :

Union street, from smithy at southern end to the poultry farm entrance,. Edward street to the woollen mills, . Eden street to tho railway station. Oasian street, and along Fairfax road to corner of Burns street.

Along Shakespeare street to Barns street; with branches therefrom as follows : A portion of Spenser street in southerly direction, that portion of Spenser street to the bowling green ; along Chaucer street to Jura street, From White Horse Hote', and along hat street to Chaucer street, with "branches therefrom in northerly direction along Johnson street and Chaucer street corner of Jura street. Along Jura street, in easterly directio \ to corner of Johnson Btreefe.

Along District road to corner of Johnson street, with a buiill branch extending five sections in southerly directon on Johnson street.

From the foregoing it will be noted that residences in the following streets are (under the present plan) excluded from the facilities of electric lighting : All streets west of Union street, with the exception of Eden and Edward strrefa; streets south oof Ossian street; that portion of Spenser street to District road ; and portions of Johnson street, Chaucer street 5 , Dryden street, and Burn 3 street,