Lights on Lambton Quay

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 13

Lights on Lambton Quay

Sir, —I’m afraid your illustrations (appearing in this morning’s issue) of a portion of Lambton Quay photographed under (1) incandescent lamps and (2) vapour lamps both present "photographic illusions.” When submitted to expert photographic opinion they were described as "deliberately misleading,”, and I am afraid yon have been unwittingly unfair to my association in its endeavour to have the lighting effects rectified.

The human eye never saw Lambton Quay at night as depicted in either of the photographs presented. Expert opinion says that the negative on the left of your picture page depicting effects from incandescent lighting is obviously under- exposed and lacking in detail. On the right, hand the negative depicting the objectionable gaseous vapour lamp, while possibly having the same exposure, gives more detail and more or less sharper effects resembling daylight. To the human eye neither effect is seen, merely that the gaseous vapour . light tends to diminish fog a»d mist, as in the case of daylight infra-red photography. It is quite probable that the gaseous lamps were imported through the influence of photographic salesmanship, whereas a practical demonstration might have had the opposite effect. This contention is borne out by the fact that the Auckland City Council decided on the installation of the gaseous vapour lamp as used in Lambton Quay, but after Inspecting its operation in this centre changed to a more satisfactory and brighter method of illumination. When the incandescent lamps were in vogue above the centre of the roadway, no objection was taken excepting that the candle power was miserably low. The electricity department has seen fit recently to install centre roadway lighting in Customhouse Quay of sufficient wattage to adequately light the roadway, and this form of lighting would satisfy the demands of Lambton Quay business people. If any of your readers care to examine the war memorial in Bowen Street any evening, they will find surrounding rhe statue four lights erected bn the tops of wooden standards. These lamps distribute a warm, bright glow in the vicinity and do not produce chameleon-like colours. They are easily recognisable from the “green” vapour lamps on account of a satisfying effect. Moreover, they show up the bitumen to advantage from a motorist’s and pedestrian’s visibility viewpoint, whereas the vapour lights produce a black effect. Having driven down the Quay on a wet night I contend the visibility is bad under the vapour lamp and good tinder the incandescent. —I am, etc., T. O. TREMAYNE (Organiser Lambton Quay Area Assn.). Wellington, May 14. Sir, —In common with everyone I have heard disease the matter, I was amazed ot Mr. Lauchlan’s attempted justification of the ghastly lighting of Lambton Quay. His statement that he has received deputations from other streets asking for the same lighting eeems really humorous, it might be an advantage to suburban streets at present badly lighted, but to imagine business people making such a request simply defies credibility. Should Mr. Laucblan try to foist this form of lighting in Cuba Street. I venture to say that the resultant deputations will disabuse his mind of any ideas he may have as to the suitability of greenvapour lights for business thoroughfares. —I am, etc., NON-OBSESSED. Wellington, May 14.