Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1911. STREET LIGHTING IN CITIES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLV, 19 June 1911, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1911. STREET LIGHTING IN CITIES.

ADVANTAGES OF A SIMULTAKE--1 OUS SYSTEM. IT will l>e remembered that- .some years ago a couple of inventions for the simultaneous lighting and extinguishing of street lamps were submitted to the Nelson Cityi Council; but tile piroject was not proceeded with 1 . Another invention is now under driscussion, and as announced in a paragraph last week, a model of the apparatus is now in the Municipal Chambers. The present proposition appears a good deal more feasible than, its predecessors, because its system claims ability to divide the city into two, or even throe, zones, with control of the lamps so ordered that those outside the city zone may be nut out, whilei those in the business streets remain lit. The operations appear to be governed l by the pressure of ,gas applied by a "booster" to a moveable cap. and the variation of e'u-ch pressure enables the zone system to be instituted.

Tho control of the lighting- and •extinguishing- of street -lamps from a common centre appears to have been reduced to a system long ago iir many places elsewhere; but there are few, if any, municipalities in New Zealand that have adopted .any of tho various inventions submitted for approval from time to time. Hence, to some extent, the Nelson. Co-uneil is handicapped .in arriving at a decision without ocular demonstration of effectiveness. A model may work well enough within a small .space; but the Council cannot be, expected to incur an expenditure of a comparatively largo sum on a mere experiment. Yet, it is beyond question that it would bo a boon, a saving, and a distinct improvement if the city lights could be lit and extinguished, say, in two sections, from the gasworks. I'nceent conditions are. and always liavo been unsatisfactory. Oft cm, in- winter, about the period of full moon, and a few days after, during which the moon is supposed to effect a saving of gas, the city streets are in complete dairkness from 5.15 o'clock till seven or 7.30. Often, too. cloud® obscure the moon, and- the streets are -thus in darkness; while the system of ex-

lingnishincr all lanups at midnight practically would offer a premium to the burglar if that enterprising craftsman took it into his .head to extend his operation« to Nelson. In addition, the annual cost of the. present antiquated method is very heavy—so much so, that tile outlay on installing an effective system of simultaneously lighting and extinguishing the ■city la.m>ps would be wiped out in throe years. * * * i *

Unde.r theso conditions the City CounC, l is justified in examining and discussing any apparatus that can he shown to bo working successfully elsewhere ; but the mere assertion' of inventors and their pamphlets, or a successful demonstration by a modal', is mot suflicicnt- j ustifixation for the adoption of a. system out of hand. The course that seems most feasible appears "to be that the Council should ask the proprietors of the invention now under discussion to instaj, it in a, section of the city, and test it on actual street lamps for a period- Then, if the apparatus proved a success, the cost of the sectional installation could be added to the .payment for the general adoption of the system. If the promoters have faith in their invention sufficient to undertake this demonstration on the "no cure no pay" principle, the Council would be justified in negotiating, and. perhaps, even, in contributing a sum towards the expenses of the experiment. Obviously, .if the street lamps could be controlled from the gasworks, the city would l take a distinct step forward. The present cost of street lighting amounts to £3OO a year or so; and the method is not, and l aiever can be, satisfactory, expensive a,s ft is. It is estimated that the cost of installing the central control system will not be more than £IOOO, or £llOO, and if successful, the outlay would be returned- in three or four years. The matter deserves looking into carefully, and it .is hoped that the Council will do so, in a business-like way, making- sure, before adopting any scheme, that it will be effective, lasting, and economical.