The Electric Light.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 149, 26 June 1891, Page 2

The Electric Light.

THE PRIVATE LIGHTING QUESTION. An interesting' discussion took place at last evening's meeting of the City Council in connection with the following recommendation of the Publio Works Committee s — " That the Council give its support to the introduction,- by the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate, df a Sill into Parliamont for tho purposo of private lighting 1 by electricity : tho Committeo preferring tho moro detailed Bill, subject to modification as to details on further consideration." Councillor Worth moved an amendment to the offect that the clause should be referred back for further consideration. He asserted that there had boon a good deal of hoodwinking about the Bill, and challenged the Mayor to oall a publio mooting, so as to take the opinion of tho ratepayers. A great deal of onergy had boen displayed in tho interests of the Bill. Councillor Vogel, for instance, had taken a prominent part in that direction. In his opinion Councillor Vogel_ was too young to be able to grasp the situation, and sep that what was proposed to be dono would inflict an injury upon the ratepayers for yoars to come. Councillor Worth denied that he was acting in a factious spirit, maintaining that ho was opposing tho Bill in tho best interests of the ratepayers. Councillor Harris, in seconding the amendment, said that it was altogether wrong to rush tho Bill through bofore tho Council had been able to consider it, and ho asserted that at tho meeting of the Public Works Committee, on Monday night, ho had seen tho nearest approach to a job that had como under his notice sinco his connection with the Council. Councillor Fetherlok observed with some warmth that he had not been a party to any job. Councillor Harris explained that ho had not oharged any one with having perpetrated a job. What no said was that he had seen tho nearest approach to a job. He said that rushing tho Bill through on Monday night was unfair to absent Councillors, and also to those Councillors who wished to make themselves acquainted with tho details of tho Bill. Councillor Smith thought that the matter had been disoussod quite enough at previous meetings. It seemed to him that tho present discussion had taken place merely for the purposo of advertising those Councillors who wcro opposed to the Bill. If the Bill passed, the residents could roly upon having the eleotrio light every night in the year, and he thought therefore that tho Counoil ought not to off or any objection to tho measure. Councillor Vogel said he did not think that thoro was a majority of the residents opposed to tho electric light. The Gas Company had been paying large dividends for years, and the effect of granting the Guloher Company the right to supply oloctrioity to private persons would, he believed, be in tho interests of the inhabitants, as tho two companies would compete with each other. Tho Bill, he argued, was a very favourable one for the city, and he admitted that if he hod been solicitor for tho company ho would not have consented to make in so favourable. The Mayor thought that tho clause should be passed as printed, as the Counoil would have an opportunity later on in tho evening of discussing the details of the Bill. In his opinion, the Bill would give considerable benefits to the oity. An important concession which the company was prepared to make was that steam power would bo available) for street lighting in caso of the water main breaking. He maintained that the passing of the Bill would on no account create a monopoly. He firmly believed that if the Giilcher Company began privato lighting, the price of gas would bo reduced, and that in order to compete with it the price of electricity would become less to the consumer. His opinion was that thero was a very large majority of tho people of Wellington in favour of tho Bill. The only persons who had spoken to him in opposition wero a few who were interested in tho Gas Company. The Counoil ho thought, wero morally bound to support the Bill. Councillor Harris explained that he was in favour of the Bill, but had seconded Councillor Worth's amendment because ho thought that the Council should first make themselves acquainted with the details of the Bill. Councillor Cleresaid he should like to see private eleotrio lighting an accomplished fact during His Worship's term of office. Councillor Fraser pointed out that as the Counoil were committed to the contract for public lighting no opposition should be offered to tho Bill. If tho Bill passed the company would lay down ateani engines, and if the water gave out at any time the city would not bo plunged into darkness. In the interests of health alone the Council ought to support tho introduction of the electric light into private houses. Councillor Petherick argued in favour of .electricity. Ho looked forward to a competition between tho Gas Company and the i Giilcher Company, believing that, tho ratepayers would bo better served than at present. Councillor Moeller said, he had it from Mr. Pickering, the Wellington manager of the Imperial Insurance Company, that as soon as the electric light was introduced into private houses the premiums would bo increased. He (Councillor Moeller) would not oppose the adoption of the clause. The clause was passed as printed. The Counoil them considered the details of tho Bill, and the following amendments were made : — At any time after tho expiration of 21 years, and before the expiration of 42 years from 'the date of the passing of the Act the Corporation may require tho company to sell its undertaking on the terms and subject to the provisions hereinbefore set out with reference to a purchase after the said period of 42 yoars. trovided that the words •' But without any addition in respect of compulsory purchases, or of goodwill, or of any profits which mayor might havo been, or be made from the undertaking or of any similar considerations contained in section — hereof, shall not apply to any purchase under the provision of this section." That the fact shall be taken into consideration that the Corporation has the right of purchase at the end of the aforesaid term of 42 years, and of every succeeding period of 42 years, upon the terms hereinbefore on that behalf set out. That at the end of tho first 21 years the Corporation shall have the right to take over the works without goodwill on making up the profits over the whole period to 10 per cent, per h'titihtti on the amount of capital expended by the company. Also a similar right at the end of every subsequent period of seven years. The above provision to be in addition to the rights of the Corporation in the drafted clauses, to be at the option of the Corporation only. That the Board of Control shall have power, at any time when they consider overhead wires become a nuisance or dangerous to the public, to compel the company to put their wires underground. The company shall not purchase or amalgamate with any other company supplying electric light or energy without the approval of the Board of Control. That the consent of the Board of Control may be given to supply energy or lay down lines outside the area of supply if a poll of two-thirds of the ratepayers of the ordinary district is taken. That the company shall give two weeks' notice of their intention to proceed with email works. That aonsumers shall have the right to purchase their meters by gradual payments. Provision was aIBO made for the inclusion of any area which may hereafter be taken into the city, and Waterloo Quay and the approaches to both wharves were added to the list of the thoroughfares which may be broken up by the company. The only clause struck out was one providing that the Board of Control should have the power of revoking the Act as to the whole or any part of the area of Bupply if they are satisfied with the statement of tho company that the undertaking cannot be carried on with profit and ought to be abandoned. The Bill, as amended, was adopted.

C. Jndd and Co direct attention to the large and varied assortment of pressed New Zealand ferus they are are now exhibiting in the windows of their Manners-street Fern Depot. Francis Sidey * Co. will sell to-morrow, unredeemed pledges. I ■ Townsend & Paul will sell to-morrow, fruit, ic. Churchward & Moeller will sell to-morrow, i fruit, Ao.