465
No. 06.
29
HONGKONG.
REPORTS ON THE QUESTION OF THE PUBLIC LIGHTING OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND BRITISH KOWLOON.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor,
In pursuance of the directions contained in the letter of appointment issued by His Excellency the Governor on the 9th January, 1896, "to find out what streets require better lighting and the cost thereof," the undersigned Committee have the honour to submit the following report :-
The Committee held nine meetings, during seven of which they perambulated the City of Victoria and peninsula of Kowloon between the hours of 8 P.M. and
11 P.M.
At their ninth meeting they examined one witness, Mr. T. COLLINS, the Secretary of the Hongkong and China Gas Company, Limited, and they also considered the Gas and Electric Light Contracts.
The Committee recommend increases and alterations in the lighting of the streets aggregating $14,152.90 exclusive of the cost of mooring lights, cutting trees, and removing signboards.
In the Appendix will be found the nature and positions of the various addi- tions and alterations suggested.
Additions suggested.
Posts 156 @ $26.40,
Brackets 154 @ $18.00,
Bridges 4 @ $40.00,
314 Welsback burners for above @ $7.50,
Initial Cost.
.$4,118.40
2,772.00
160.00
2,355.00
$9,405.40
Alterations recommended.
The existing gas lamps 638 to be reduced by 5, and the remaining 633
fitted with Welsback burners @ $7.50,
4,747,50
$14,152.90
To His Excellency
The Committee recommend the use of the Welsback burners for the following
reasons :-
(1) The present cost of upkeep per lamp of 11 or 12 candle-power is $2.85 per mensem whereas that for the Welsback of 25 to 30 candle-power will only be $2.70, so that the initial cost of the burner will therefore be recouped in four years, after which a saving of about 5 per cent. per annum will accrue, while the brilliancy of the lights will be doubled at once.
(2) The Welsback burner requiring a sealed lantern is less liable to
extinction.
(3) The Welsback gives a quite sufficiently intense light for the purpose the Committee have in view and is much cheaper than the Electric Lamp in the initial cost and upkeep.
Governor Sir W. ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.