Electric Lighting and the Avon.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6649, 13 September 1889, Page 3

Electric Lighting and the Avon.

« TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Tour "Practical" correspondent Beem3 to be under the delusion that I claim to be the first to suggest utilising the Avon for lighting Christchurcb. This is quite a mistake, and if he would again examine my letter o£ Sept. '7, he would find that I simply mention having suggested the idea some thiee years ago, but at that time storage batteries were out of the question. My suggestion at that time was to use the B.T.K. batteries, but after my experience with these batterieß at your office, I found them to be both impracticable and wasteful, even for the few lamps then in use. The only thing I claim to suggest is to light the' town in sections by means of storage batteries, so as to dispense with the costly conductor, and the waste of power in distributing electricity over such a scattered city as Christchurch. It will be plainly seen that one-fourth the weight of copper will distribute the same amount of [electric power over a given area int wenty-four hours which would be necessary if the same power had to be distributed in six hours, consequently I propose that, if storage batteries are to be used, they should be placed in all parts of the city so as to use the longest conductor throughout the twenty-four hours. In this way a great saving is obtained in both the power and conductors. " Practicai's " accumulators must be of a very low efficiency if by charging them for eighteen hours only one-third of the power transmitted into them can be utilised. In reference to the time mentioned by him as to the real work per day, namely " eighteen to twenty hours/* the machinery must be of very poor construction to require from four to six hours' rest out of the twenty-four. It would be very awkward for our ocean-going steamers if they had to recoup themselves every- day by a siesta of Bix hours. As regards the power available from the Avon, Professor Bickerton distinctly states that the City Surveyor estimates that 99-horse power can be obtained ; it is on this I base my calculations, and I still maintain that with such a power it is possible to light 8000 lampß of 20-candle power; that is, 600 for street lighting- for six to eight hours, the remainder to be used for private lighting from four to -six hours. If " Practical " would like me to go into figures to prove this I should be most happy to do so, but I will not take up any more of your valuable space at present. — I am, &c, P. BABBIDGE.