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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Street Lighting

Street Lighting.

The streets of Wellington were lighted by gas for the first time on the 22nd of April, 1871. When the question of lighting the City by electricity was being agitated in 1886, there were 240 gas lamps which were lighted on moonless nights only, and then not later than twelve o'clock. The cost to the Council for this limited convenience was something over £1600 per annum. The negotiations with the Gulcher Company resulted in the supplying of about 480 lamps, to be lighted from dark to daylight, and with a much less stringent definition of moonlight nights. And for this really wonderful advance the increased cost to the Council was represented by an advance in price of £150 per annum, and the use of water which would otherwise have been adding to the Wainui overflow. The number of lamps is now one-fourth greater (600) and the cost (£2100) has advanced one-fifth only. As time goes on, and more lamps are needed, doubtless even this very moderate cost of £3 10s. per lamp will be still further reduced. At the time of writing, however, new arrangements are being entered into which will increase the cost by £1 per lamp. About seventy new lamps are being added and the cost per lamp would, therefore, be reduced a trifle, if the water power supplied by the Council were continued; but it has been decided to cease the supply, and for the additional income of £1 per lamp the Gulcher Company will provide steam power. Even at £4 10s. per lamp per annum the light is much cheaper than gas, and some parts of the City are lighted beyond anything that would be attempted with gas lamps. The majority are twenty candle power incandescent lamps, though some are as high as fifty candle power, and there are a few are lights of great brilliance. There are still some dark places in the City, but on the whole, it must be admitted that the lighting is exceedingly good.