ELECTRIC LIGHTING ON THE WHARVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9494, 25 April 1894, Page 6

ELECTRIC LIGHTING ON THE WHARVES.

The report submitted by the Works and Tariff Committee at the regular meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday contained the following clause :—"That no action be taken at present in the matter of lighting the wharves by electricity, as, judging from the information in possession of this committee, the expense would be too great." Mr. Farkell said that he had visited Messrs. Leyland and O'Brien's Sawmill, Customs-street, where an installation of 20 lights had been established successfully, and" ascertained from those gentlemen that the total cost of plant, dynamo, etc., was £150,, and there the cost ceased, for the motive power was supplied by the ongine { when the mill was working. The cost of lighting the wharves, therefore, should not be so great as had been represented to them. The Chairman said that all the batteries in the Upper Thames goldfields were provided with electric lights, and the cost was small, so that the estimates the Board got of £3000 to £4000, cost of plant for lighting the wharves, and an annual cost for maintenance of £500 must have been excessive. It was true that since that estimate was furnished several of the patents had fallen in, and the cost of lamps and other appliances was now much. less.

Mr. Alison moved " That the clause be remitted back to the committee for further consideration." The matter, he said, was a most important one, and information was now available which was not in their reach before. Mr. Alisons motion was agreed to.