WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.
(Fnou Ouk Own Coriikbtondest.) WELLINGTON, February 14. There is a. good ileal of dissatisfaction with tho electric light service supplied by the local syndicate, and a pretty-general desire that tho service should be municipalised. It is, howover, contended.that the company by reason of its original agreement with tho city has a. monopoly. Tho company is said to be willing to sell out for about £150,000. The Corporation, on the other hand, does not regard the undertaking as worth inoro than _ £30,000 or £40,000, and, moreover, disputes the monopoly. With a view lo testing the whole question, the City Corporation will presently arrange _to supply electric light to two or three citizens. The way will then he open for tho syndicate to bring'a test case before tho Court. Since Hie D.I.C. firo a number of people has become somewhat nervous, about their, electric light installation. It will be remembered that Government House also some time ago was found to he on fire in consequence of the fusing of an electric lighting wire. Tho destruction by fire of several mansions iu Great Britain in consequence of the fusing 'of wires shows tho need of caution. The installation could he made perfectly safe if the wires were carrid in iron tubes, or even if the insulating were carried out on more thorough lines. One leading citizen whom I met last night tells me that though ho had his house built on modern lines with electric light in all the rooms, he is now going to flic expense of a gas inshllatioi). In his case it is not- because he is not afraid of the danger from fire, but because he is satisfied that with incandescent gas'lie can set n better light than that now supplied by the syndicate. In connection with the.proposal to introduce magpies to cope with tho' sparrow pest the fact- that magpies have already, been introduced into New Zaland seems to have escape*! notice. They- are to be seen in several parts of the Wellington district. ■
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 8
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339WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES. Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 8
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