NEW STREET LIGHTS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21118, 20 March 1934, Page 16

NEW STREET LIGHTS

. —* — SUITABILITY FOR MAIN THOROUGHFARES BEAUTIFYING ASSOCIATION'S CONSIDERATION Unanimous approval of the newtype of street lights demonstrated in Papanui road last week has been given by the Christchurch Beautifying Association after an inspection during the week-end. This announcement was made to a representative of "The Press" yesterday by Mr R. B. Owen. president of the association, who commented on possible methods of financing installation of the new type of lights on main thoroughfares. Members of the executive of the association made their inspection on Saturday night. They were greatly impressed by the even distribution of the light on both footpaths and roadway and the absence of glare. It was considered that the new type of light ensured greater safety for all road fsers. Tests were made, and it was found that persons on the opposite side of the street could be readiiy recognised. and it was also possible to roe a pin thrown on to the footpath. One member compared the old and ihe new lights by saying that the difference was that between a room lighted by a candle and one lighted by electricity. It was also considered ihat the new lights toned down the strong glare of thoughtless motorists whose lamps were imperfectly focused. Comparison of Costs Issuing a statement on behalf of the executive, Mr Owen said that the best highway lighting in or near Christchurch was undoubtedly that on Cashmere Hills by the Heathcote county. Those lamps would cost to-day very nearly as much as the lamps exhibited on Papanui road. Ths cost of the riverside lamps, six of which tin; Beautifying Association had presented to the city five years ago, was £2l each, and with the exchange to-day would cost \l least £25. The efficiency of those lamps could not be compared with that of the new lamp? demonstrated on Papanui road. It was claimed that the new type gave nearly three times the light for the same current used compared with the type now in general use in the city, and that the cost would be about £SOO a mile for them. Speaking of finance for an installation. Mr Owen said that the Municipal Electricity Department had a .ureat reserve fund, built up with the idea of developing a Waimakariri scheme for the city's own electricity bupply. That project, commendable enough years ago. had been definitely scotched by the Government, so that the City Council could very well apply £SOOO out of profits to equip main thoroughfares with the most , modern lights, and also use some of : the big reserves to clear central areas i « f the network of overhead transmis- : sion wires that had only one place in ; the city—underground. |

CONGRATULATIONS FOR COUNCIL LIGHT WANTED FOR BANK CORNER The general council of the Canterbury Automobile Association decided st a meeting last evening to send a letter to the Christchurch City Council congratulating the council on the success of the new road lights which were demonstrated last week in Papanui road, and to ask the council if it would be possible to install one of the lights at the Bank of New Zealand corner. When the new lights were referred to by a member, the secretary (Mr J. S. Hawkes) suggested that the Bank cf New Zealand corner in Colombo street was a position in which one of the new gaseous discharge lamps would serve a very useful purpose. It was time that the traffic inspectors were supplied with better lighting at the point, he said. Members suggested other important intersections in the city where the lights could be installed, but the chairman. Mr R. Twyneham, remarked that to ask for too many of the lights would probably lead tb a straight-out refusal.