LIGHTING PROBLEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3695, 3 December 1912, Page 6

LIGHTING PROBLEM.

MEETING AT MANGAPAPA

COMMITTEE APPOINTED

A meeting of ratepayers and residents of Mangapapa was held at the schoolliouse last evening to consider the question of the extension or the electric lighting cables or gas mams to that suburb. Mr. M. McLeod presided, and there were about fitty pieSe Mr. W. Smith, who convened the meeting, said that some of the residents had spoken to him on various occasions regarding the lighting or Mangapapa, and after some consideration he agreed to call the meeting to finally decide what action should be taken. Me understood that the Borough authorities sent round some person to make a house to house canvass, and to obtain the signatures of those who were willing to have the light installed. He had heen Io 1 d verbally that if there were 25 consumers some arrangement would be mado to give them the electric light. Mangapapa was growing, and it was the coming suburb of Gisborne. Therefore it was up to them to pull together. Mr. JBuswell, the Borough Electrical Engineer, was present, and lie would perhaps give them some information regarding the electric light. Mr. Bus well said that he would he pleased to answer any questions. He would like to get the feeling of the ratepayers generally as to what they intended to do. Mr. Smith: I think you can take it all are in favor of lighting, but perhaps the best thing to do would be to find out how many wanted gas or how many wanted electric light, if either was brought to Mangapapa. Mangapapa was not further away from the power-house than the end of the mains in Haiti. He understood the Borough Council was not prepared to go outside the borough until they had what they required in the borough. He thought that there would be sufficient inducement at Mangapapa for the Council to extend the electrical service. The first installed —electricity or gas—would scoop the pool. He thought the Borough Council would favorably consider the proposal if laid before them.

Mr. YY. Devery said that a representative of the Gas Company had spoken to him on the matter, and told him what the company was prepared to do. Mr. Buswell might tell them what the probable cost of the electric light would be. The chairman said that none of them knew the cost, but they were all agreed they wanted the light. It would perhaps be better to appoint a committee to go into the question. The Electrical Engineer wanted to know what they required. Mr. Devery: He knows we want light! The chairman : No doubt. Mr. Devery: And the Gas Company knows that. We want the best we can for the money. The chairman: The Electrical Engineer is just waiting to see what we require, and if he can give us an idea of the cost of electric light, then wo will be in a position to find out how many would take it.. It is hardly a fair proposition to pit the Gas Company against the Council. Mr. Smith: I don’t think there Is any attempt to do so. The chairman: I absolutely know nothing about it. By what I can hear, if I could get the electric light under similar conditions to what they do in town I would have it in my own house.

Mr. Buswell, the Electrical Engineer, said that it appeared to: him’that the meeting was held with the. object of securing electric or gas lighting for the locality. The whole matter hinged on the cost of the cable, the cost of the current, and the probable time they would receive it. These were the three points that were going to weigh with them most heavily. The cost was one of -the items which he imagined would have the greatest bearing with them at the present time, and also one of the most difficult for him to answer in its entirety, because it was a scattered locality, .and each ratepayer that contributed his quota towards the cost would feel that he had a certain right to being connected up to the electric supply. Those who were furthest away from the borough boundary would havo to pay more, because of the cost of the cable, unless those who contributed to the cost contributed pro rata. Everything would then be on an equality. The reason why he mentioned tlio cost was that the borough had voted a certain amount for the plant and cables. The first loan was £15.000, and a supplementary loan was raised for a similar amount, which had not been lifted. The money spent was raised with the object of supplying those people inside the borough with electricity, and the ratepayers inside the borough were responsible for it. If there was any loss the loss would he theirs, and if there was any profit it would also be theirs. The Council when approached on the matter had decided' that nothing should be done outside the borough boundary, but if the County wanted the current the Borough had to be relieved of the capital cost. When the canvass was made there was no guarantee given that the electricity would be supplied outside the borough. The oost of bringing the current into the County would be about £230 per mile. The connections would he 25s to 35s per light. The cables would carry electricity for about 60 consumers, but if cooking was to be provided for the consumers would liave to be reduced to 30 or 40. The cost of a supply double that under notice would be about £350.

Mr. Smith pointed out that the Gas Company were prepared to bring the mains into the district if they got 75. con sinners who were prepared to guarantee to take 12s 6d worth of gas monthly for three years. After further discussion a commit-' tee, consisting of Messrs. Grundy. Hanson, McCliskie, Smith, McLeod, Sinclair, Bullock, Deverv, and Williams, was appointed to get further information from the Borough Council and the Gas Company on the matter, and to confer with the Cook County Council and Hospital Board (who have a private connection), to see what arrangements could he come to regarding the most economical method of serving the district with lighting facilities.