THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING OF THE CITY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 858, 10 August 1888, Page 23

THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING OF THE CITY.

THE ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETED. A special meeting of the City Council was held Monday night for the purpose of affixing the seal of the Corporation to tho elec-tric-lighting contract. There were present the Mayor, Councillors Richardson, Danks, Williams, Smith, Petherick, A. Young, Brandon, Heaton, Allen, Coombe, and Edwards. His Worship the Mayor presented the following report, which was read by the Town Clerk —“Difficulties having arisen in connection with the electric lighting of the city, I proceeded to Christchurch and effected a settlement, and Messrs Miles and Co., as Giilcher’s agents, have signed the contract. At my suggestion they have put four 30 horse-power turbines instead of two bO horse-power. There will thus be duplicate turbines as well as dynamos, and should one water service be broken the city can be lighted from the other station. They have also agreed to give 500 lamps, m lieu of 4SO, as specified, at the contract price. I would point out that this concession I have obtained from the Company means at the price we pay for the lamps, a saving of over £/U per annum, or for the whole contract over £7OO The agents, Messrs Miles aud Co., have also agreed to arrange by letter in rererenceto Sabine’s photometer, as recommended by Dr Lemon. I also intimated to them that Idesired to have a 500-oandle lamp and post to commemorate the Council and the Company that lit the capital city of New Zealand, and thev agreed with my views, and to forward the matter. The whole of the 500 lamps are to be lit on or before the 3rd February next, under penalty of £6 per day. But they have also given tne a letter to say that, although it is not in the contract, they will make every endeavour to light as much of the city as possible on or before the 30tb November next. In return, I have agreed to ask the Council to pay pro rata for such portion so lighted, and for their increased efforts to extend the time for final completion if they require it by two months. Being desirous of seeing the Gtilcher installation at work, Messrs Miles and Co. placed their electrician at my disposal, and we proceeded to the Kaiapoi Woollen Works, where the manager (Mr Leathead) very courteously gave me every information. From him I learned that they have had it at work about six years. The first machinewasfor 150 lights; 1 they replaced it by a larger one of 250. 1 Thev state that the installation has given them the utmost satisfaction, there never having been the slightest hitcb, and that they would not be without it on any consideration. They previously used gasoline, which cost them £2O per week. Outside of the coal used in the engine (2t>-horse-power compound) the cost is 30s per w eek for lamps, as against £2O before the electric light was used. The whole of the extensive works are lit by electricity, and while the whole is lit or put out in the engine-room, on each story or building there is inside of the door a switch, by which any portion can be lit or put out as required. The machine is low tension compound wound. No danger, I am assured, would result from a wire breaking by any one taking hold of it. To prove this the engineer took hold of both poles of the dynamo while running with 20 horsepower and 200 lamp 3. I also did the same without experiencing any inconvenience. As to safety from fires, if anyone tampered with the wires by bringing them together, a plug in the dynamo room would be instantly fused and the current cut oft. This, 1 understand, a few days ago the Insurance Companies proved to their complete satisfaction. As to my question what would happen if one light was put out, I was informed that it would not affect the others, and to prove-this the engineer suddenly switched off 200 lamps that were lit and only left one lamp alight, which did not even flicker. I was assured by the electrician that this was a very severe test, as well as somewhat risky, to put a machine to, and only a J! 0 ?) 1 compound wound machine would stand it. Mr Leathead, their electricion, in, 1 understand, the person who will superintend the installation.' The fact that he learned Ins profession with Messrs Seimens Bros. is a good guarantee of his fitness. The result of niy observations ia to satisfy me aa far as A

could judge that the system is an effeottve one, and that Messrs Miles and Co., Giilcher A a«ents, will see it carried oat satisfactoruySamuel Beowx, Mayor.” Hia Worship formally moved the adoptiora of the report, and in doing so, said the extra--20 lamps were required, as it wa® found bv tbe maps recently issued, that there were a good many lanes that were nob shown on the old maps, and it was necessary to have them lighted. The Company, he pointed out, had agreed to no this without extra coat. Ashe was anxious that the present Council should be connected with the lighting of the city by electricity, ha suggested that a letter should be sent to »ho Company stating that if they had at least one-tliird of the city lighted before the 30th November the Council would agree to pay pro rata, and they would also be willing to extend the time for the final completion of the work, if the Company required it. Councillor Richardson seconded the report, remarking that he considered it very satisfactory that his Worship had completed arrangements so successfully. Councillor Danks suggested that they should let the matter stand over until next Thursday, in order that the City Engineer might satisfy the Council that they had the pressure of water at the points where it was required g ouno iu or Brandon, the Mayor said they had been assured that they had sufficient water before tho specifications were drawn up. Continuing, his Worship said they had heard nothing about this when tho tender was accepted by the whole P® 00 ® 1 * an 3 seemed to him very childish that they should only just find out about it. Councillor Danks said he had spoken about it from the beginning. Councillor Petherick said he would like to be satisfied as to whether Miles and Co- had any power to negotiate for the Gulcher said they (the Gulcher Company) had stated in their tender that they woMd be bound by any arrangement Miles and Co. might make. The solicitor for Milea and Co. and the Town Clerk considered this Petherick favoured Councillor Danks’ suggestion that a test should be made, and he moved that the matter should be postponed until-Thursdoy, in order that the tests should be made by the Engineer This was not seconded, and accordingly i 'Councillor Edwards considered that it waa an insult to the Engineer to ask him to go and test the water as suggested. Councillor Heaton said they had had littlo time to look over the contract. . The Mayor pointed out that the contraec had not been altered, and that it was the same as it was eight months ago. Councillor Smith thought the thanks of the Council were due to the Mayor for the Sterest he had taken in the matter in going to Christchurch to set matters right. .. .. Councillor A. Young a so considered that the thanks of the Council Worship for having brought the matter such a satisfactory conclusion. Councillor Danks drew his Worship s attention to the fact that when he., had first proposed that a test should be made, bia Worship had said he was mad. SonuP further discussion having taken ulace, the motion for the adoption of the report was then put and carried. His Worship then moved. That the seal of the Corporation be affixed to the contract, and .that if the Gillcher Company light at least one-third of the city before the 30th at November the Council will to pay pro rata, and would also agree to extend the time of final completion for two months if required by the Gulcher Company. This was seconded by Councillor Allen and ° a His d Worship said he was thoroughly satisfied that the work would be well carried out by the Companj. In bis Worship’s presence the agents of the Gulcher Company had instructed manager to send an urgent cable to the Company in England as soon as the contract was signed, to hurry the work as much as possible.