ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHT

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 203, 2 December 1920, Page 2

ELECTRIC POWER AND LIGHT

PLAN OF STREET LAMPS. Writing to the Morrinsvillc Town Board on Thursday, Mr. Joseph Price, of Matamata, Morrinsvillo's representative on (lie Thames Valley Electric Power Board, said that some lime ago he suggested to Mr. McGregor thai a committee should be appointed to prepare a plan of the town, and show the street lamps that would be required. Mr. Price expressed the hope that this bad been done. It was his desire that everything should be in readiness so that when poles were available, he could ask that, the wiring be done in Morrinsvillc. Mr Price went on to say that the charges for current for street lighting would be 35s per annum for each 100 candle power lamp. For all other power lamps the rate would be proportionate. The Power Board would instal the lighting arrangements, and the local authority would pay not more than 12i per cent on the capital cost. This charge would include interest on the capital outlay, depreciation, and overhead charges. The engineer had estimated that the capital cost for street lighting, placing about eight lights to a mile, at about £1 a light, which meant that each light would cost the Board £2 15s per annum. The life of a 100 c.p. lamp was about twelve months, and the cost of renewal 10s per light. The lamp , would burn from sunset to sunrise at that price.

ASSISTANCE TO CONSUMERS. Mr. Price continued to say that it had been agreed that £25,000 of the £200,000 loan be. reserved for assisting consumers in the installing of electricity on their premises. The allocation of the proportion of the money would be advanced to each local body in the Board's area on a capital value basis. Upon any of the local bodies expending the whole of their allocation, and making application to the Power Board, the same would be reconsidered at an extraordinary meeting of the Power Board. The owner making application for financial assistance shall deposit onethird of the proposed installation. The total allowance must not exceed £2O in the case of a house, or £IOO in the case of a farm. The amount advanced for a house must be repaid in eighteen equal monthly instalments, and in the case of a farm the advance must be paid in six equal quarterly instalments. The interest would be fixed at six per cent. WIRING OF PROPERTIES.

Mr. Price asked the Board to make it widelv known that it would not.be wise for each individual to enter into a contract to have his property wired. H would be done at a much cheaper rate if done in blocks, and it was quite possible that the Power Board's own wiremen might be able to do the largest share of the work, if not all. SCREW CONDUIT ONLY.

Mr. Price warned the Board that users should be on the guard respecting connections. A recommendation had been made in favour ol the screwed conduit system, and rl tins recommendation was adopted, as was Hkelv, inconvenience would be caused through other systems being employed. . Mr. Price said he had not submitted regular reports because only formal business had been done, and detailed reports had appeared in the local Press. Mr. Price offered to give any information that 'would be required. He said he would do his utmost to have power installed at Morrinsvillc, as soon as possible. The Power Board's work was being held back on account of non-delivery of poles. VISIT TO MORRINSVILLE. The members of the Power Board would be visiting Morrinsvillc on December 14th, when they would like to meet the members of the Town Board. It was resolved to thank Mr. Trice for his report. The Works Committee were authorised to prepare a plan of the proposed street lighting.