LIGHTING OF STREETS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21582, 19 September 1935, Page 10

LIGHTING OF STREETS

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT

DISCUSSED

ADDRESS BY MR J. C ( . FORSYTH

The origin of street lighting and its developments until the present day were outlined in an address last night by the city electrical engineer, Mr J. C Forsyth, to members of the Christchurch branch of the Town Planning Institute of NewZealand. The president of the branch, Mr A. R. Galbraith, was in the chair. Mr Forsyth said that the origin of street lighting appeared to have been in the practice adopted centuries ago by people carrying lamps with them when they went about the streets at night. That was the only method of illumination to be seen in the streets in London until the fifteenth century. About 1415 th« Lord Mayor of London ordered citizens to hang lamps on the exterior of the buildings they occupied, but that order applied only during "moonless nights during the winter." This system continued until about 1700, but then it was considered to be unsuccessful, and the city reverted to the old practice. However, robberies increased to such an extent at nights that it was necessary to take some steps to make the streets safer for citizens, and in 1736 Parliament ordered the London city authorities to institute a system of street lighting. This was done, and about 1810 gas lighting was put into operation. This continued until 1885, when electricity was used instead. Since then there had, of course, been many important developments that had brought street lighting to the standard of to-day. The discovery of the gas-filled lamp, commonly known as the halfwatt lamp, marked the beginning of a great* improvement in street lighting, and from 1915 until a few years ago that type of lamp was used exclusively. The first object of street lighting was tb provide for the safety of citizens against robbery and for the general comfort in travelling at night, but the advent of motor-cars had made it even more necessary. To-day street lighting was most important in the prevention of accidents, for statistics showed that many more accidents occurred at night than during the day. Mr Forsyth said that ideas had changed considerably about the amount of lighting that was required, compared with the views held 25 years ago. It was now considered that lighting should be from 10 to 15 times stronger than was considered necessary a quarter of a century ago. Street lighting generally cost more than any other type of lighting, because the fittings had to be used out of doors and were subjected to the stresses of all sorts of weather. Capital charges were higher, and the lights were in operation for many more hours than were other kinds, but with reasonably good equipment it was possible to provide suitable lighting at a satisfactory cost. Mr Forsyth concluded his lecture by showing a series of lantern slides illustrating various methods of street lighting overseas and in New Zealand. A vote of thanks was oassed by acclamation to Mr Forsyth.