THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7382, 7 August 1889, Page 3

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

The electric light is slowly working its way into public favor. It has not made .rapid strides iv the colonies, for, like many other modern institutions, i e has suffered through the want of practical knowledge and inexperience on the part of those who have endeavored to deal with it. Where independent driving power has been brought into use to run the dynamo the expense has been found too great, aud those who have gone to the trouble and outlay of erecting installations have been glftd r_rv abandon the

system and revert to gas, or, as in the case of mills, to candles and oil lamps. Failure iv one case has been the means of deciding others nor to run the risk of erecting the light. Experience has taught that it will not pay to provide driving power for a small number of lights. In the case of mills, where there is surplus driving power, the light can be run at a moderate expense, The large flour mills in Timaru are now lighted by electricity, and within the last day or two Messrs Wood Bros.' flour mill at Fendalton has been supplied with the incandescent light by Mr R. H. Postlethwaite. Mr Postlethwaite has spent a number of years in studying the theoretical and practical part of the science of electricity, especially as regards its use for motive power and lighting purposes, and he has recently undertaken the erection of installations. One of our representatives paid a visit to Messrs Wood Bros.' mill on July ISth, and was shown the light in use. The dynamo, which is by J. G. Statter and Co., London, is driven by a belt from the mill shaft on the ground floor. It is capable of supplying from forty to fifty lamps, but only twenty-four are used in lighting the mill, as but little motive power can be spared. Eighteen of the lamps are 16-candle power, and the remainder are half that strength, the weaker ones being used in places where the least light is required. The power used to drive the dynamo, which runs at the rate of about 1330 revolutions per minute, is from two to two and a quarter horse-power. Mr Postlethwaite has made and erected a volt meter, which shows the strength of the electric current. The lamps will take a current equal to sixty-five volts, but they are not run at the full strength. The lamps used are the Edison-Swan patent. Most of them are fitted with ceiling roses with slate bases, and iron shades enamelled on the inside. The main lines are carried to the top of mill with branches for each floor, so that the light is equal all over,-and each branch is supplied with safety cut-outs. From its erection the light has run steadily and without the least trouble. It gives sufficient light for each floor, though the mill is not an easy one to light with only a limited number of lamps. The light at night-time is now equal, and, in many parts of the mill, better than in the daytime. The installation appears to be quite successful in every way.