POWER FOR DECONPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15265, 1 April 1913, Page 8

POW ER FOR DECONPORT.

PRIVATE OR MUNICIPAL? THE ISSUE FOR.THE RATEPAYERS. ■''■ir •;'•.• 'j "■■' '..■.■■■■■.•' A MEETtKO of . the Devonport Borough Council was held last evening to further consider the electrification acheme promoted by ifr. D. M. Davis. The draft deed ! of " delegation &nd draft agreement Were carefully considered clause by clause fend approved, and it Was decided to finally complete the Agreement at a meeting next Tuesday night, preparatory to submitting the question to a poll of ratepayers on April SO. Lite following issues are to be pifeicnted at the poll {— (a). Whether the corporation shall dele* gate to the eohtraetof the right to aupply electricity fotf lighting, heat» ing, and ■» power purposes to th« in- ; habitonts of the Borough of Devon* portj or '■'(b) ''Whether the corporation altall carry out a scheme for aopplyina electricity to the inhabitants of the borough as submitted by Mr. A. Wylio (city electrical engineer). If tho first ppoposal is carried, a licflnso will bo applied for by the corporation from the Minister to enable Mr. Davis's scheme to be carried out. The draft agreement provides that if the ratepayers decido in favour of the seheme being carried out by Mr. Davis, he is to erect a power-house, properly equipped, on an area of not logs than 1500 aquaro yards, from which there is to be a supply of electrical power for a period of 21 years. Mains are to be erected along tho following borough streets :—Beach Road, including Queen's Parade and King Edward Parade, Cheltenham Road, Calliope Road, Victoria Road, including Marine Square, Tainui Road, Albert Road, Church Street, Vauxhall Road, Cheltenham Terrace, Waterview Road, and Lake Road to the borough boundary. Within ono year the contractor agrees to erect lines for a total length of not less than 10 miles. At the desire of tho corporation, Mr. Davis also agrees to extend the plant, to Be of sufficient capacity for tramway or traction purposes, the borough to purchase the power for such purposes at not more than ljd a unit. The maximum charges which the contractor can make to private consumers is 6d per unit for the energy for lighting, and 3d per unit for heating, cooking, and power. The agreement goes on to provide that the contractor shall pay to the corporation as rent or royalty 5 per cent, of Mb annual profits. At the end of seven years, 14 years, or at the end of the whole term, the council may purchase the whole plant and effects, the. price to be assessed by independent valuers.