Electric Light For Gisborne.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 18, 23 January 1901, Page 3

Electric Light For Gisborne.

A GENEROUS OFFER.

In regard to the subject of harnessing the To Beinga Falls for electric lighting and motive power, brought up at a previous meeting of the Council, Mr Chas. Dunlop wrote to tho Borough Council last night:—“ Since writing to yon on the Bth instant, I have received a letter from Messrs Steuart and Fenn, in which they express the opinion that it would not bo of much use to tho Council to have any more approximate information on the subject of electrical installation, but they are prepared to visit the district and various sites, and furnish a report if the Council is willing to pay tho actual expenses—no engineering fees would be asked.” They say: “We have recently beaten all New Zealand and Australian prices on a large contract in the South Island, and besides that wo were in competition with tho Brush and Westinghouse Company, the former being one of the biggest firms in England, and the latter one of the largest in America. Wo feel sure that you have initiated a thoroughly practical scheme, and as electrical engineering has attained such perfection you can be sure that if the work is carried out the installation will bo as reliable ns as any other engineering works.”

In regard to the letter, Cr Joyce said tho matter was well worth considering, but the question was whether they eould do anything in it while they had the other scheme in hand.

The Mayor said it did not necessarily conflict with that, as it was more a matter of locomotion; whether they could go into it now was another matter. He would be glad to hoar the opinion of councillors. Cr Joyce said the subject was one of groat importance, and well worthy of their consideration. Tho expense to be incurred in getting a report was only a nominal sum—he estimated it at £2O. As electricity was coming so much into vogue they might look well to these improvements that would enable them to advance town and district. The report would be well worth tho money, even if they could not at present put it into practical use. The Mayor agreed with what Cr Joyce had said, and also referred to the great advance in electrical matters. He was quite satisfied that something of the kind would come into use in time, but on the score of expense, and with the other schemes they had in hand, he did not think they could do anything at present. A friend of his from America had been visiting Gisborne on Sunday, and strongly urged that the town should go in for electricity, but he felt that with the handful of pcopio they had it would not be wise to go into tho matter further at present. It would not be right to bring an engineer here, when they had no hope of making use of any report ho presented. Cr Jones disagreed with the Mayor as to their being such a handful of people in the place; he considered there were quite enough for them to take any advantage they could of matters that would cause the town to progress. Ho did not think they should straightway seek a report, but they should not let tho matter drop. He proposed that the whole Council form a Committee to get all the information they could on the subject. They could interview Mr Dunlop, and get the advantage of the information of which he was possessed ; they could collect still further information, and later would be in a position to know whether they could accept the encouraging offer made by Messrs Steuart and Fenn.

The motion was seconded by Cr Joyce, and carried unanimously.