LIGHT AND POWER.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18008, 13 July 1928, Page 14 (Supplement)

LIGHT AND POWER.

TPIE BOROUgH WELL SERVED. Timaru is jft one of those places which loves (Rlrkness rather than light and it can without egotism claim to be a town with ample provision for lighting.

The first lights appeared in 1871, when the lighting was by the primitive method of oil lamps. In the year named, tenders were accepted for the erection of oil lamps, Mr T. Rowley being the successful tenderer, at £3/11/- per lamp, including post; iron and lamp, while the tender of Mr A. Wheeler, at 4d per lamp per night, was accepted for lighting. This method of lighting prevailed for a few years. ■ :

In 1874 a Gas Company was formed, and in IS7 5 the erection of gas \vorks (on the present site) was completed at a cost of £6500. There were at first 100 consumers of gas, the coal used in the manufacture of the gas being brought from Greymouth.

In 1877 the Borough Council decided to purchase the gas works, the Council considering it best that they should control a public utility of this kind, and enjoy what profit there might be in it. The price asked for the gas works was £12,000, and a public meeting was held to consider whether this money should be 'borrowed. The meeting decided against it. In IS7B the Gas Company declared a dividend of 15 per cent. The price of gas in Timaru was', reduced to 15/- per 1000 ft in ISBI. At the end of 1914 the price of gas per 1000 ft was:—Cooking: 8/4 gross, 5/4 net; lighting: 8/4 gross,6/8 net; power, 5/5 up to 10,000 ft, and 5/- over that quantity.

But the old order had to give place to new, and in i 907 an agreement was made between the Borougu Council and J. L. and G. Scott (Christchurch) for a supply of'electrical energy for street lighting and’ other purposes. At the end of!9-13 there were 150 miles of wire and 1000 poles supporting this wire, within the borough. There were. 34 6 glow-lamps and 36 arc . lamps being iighted for a minimum 0f.'960 hours per annum. The glow-lamps were of 32 e.p. each, and the arc lights varied from 500 c.p. to LOGO; c.p. each. From May, 190 S, private consumers were connected, ; their number at the end of 1913 ‘being 257—more than double.the number at the end of the previous year. The charges then were:—Less than 10 units, 1/- per unit (discount Id); between 10 and 25 units, 1/- (discount 2d); between 25 and 50 units, 1/- (discount 3d); over 100 units, 1/- (discount 4d). For power the charges were; To 50 units, 4d per unit; over 50 units, 125 per cent, discount; over 100 units, 25 per cent, discount. A 285 h.p. generating plant was located in a power house at Mill Street, and a 150 h.p. generating engine had to be added in 1914.

The arrangement between the Borough Council and Scott Bros, did not prove satisfactory, and in 1915 the Borough Council took over tire installation from Scott Bros, the price paid being £34,000. At this time about SO miles'of streets were being lighted at'a cost of £I3OO per annum to the borough. There were at that time 4SG private connections for light and power. At the present time the Council is taking from the Government a supply of 11,000 volts to a new sub-station erected at the intersection of Grasmere and Selwyn Streets. Provision has been made at this sub-station for an ultimate capacity up to 5000 k.v.a.. Most of the distribution is by overhead lines. The total connected load at March 31 last was over 6000 k.w. The route miles of transmission and distribution, including a small section of underground cable, total 54.

The power house was completely closed down about a year ago, and following this, the converter. and equipment were removed to a new sub-station at the rear of the Municipal Buildings In George Street. The change-over from D.C. to A.C. was commenced in 1925 and to-day the majority of the consumers are on A..C. The Borough Council has placed aside a sum of money for the Inn-pose of assisting property owners in the borough to enable them to have installed on their property electric light and power, and the purchase of electric ranges, washing machines or motors.

The present general manager of the Electricity Department (Mr E. F. Hollands) took charge in November, 1926, and under his direction this department of the Borough Council’s activities has gone on smoothly and well. Last year the profit from it ran into about £4OOO.