Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 476

472

( 8 )

3. In Urban Districts in England, the improvement, including lighting, of private streets and roads is regulated by the section 150, Public Health Act 1875, under which section the Urban Authority has power to call upon the owner or owners of the property abutting upon such streets if they are not properly sewered, levelled, paved, channelled or are not lighted to the satisfaction of the authority to carry out the necessary works within a specified time.

4. The question of the efficient construction, maintenance and lighting of private streets and lanes is one that I have on previous occasions referred to.

5. In my opinion the owners of property abutting on private streets and lanes should be liberally treated in all cases where such owners are prepared to hand the private streets and lanes that are used as public thoroughfares over to the Govern- ment, but until such streets and lanes are taken over by the Government the cost of efficiently lighting them should undoubtedly devolve on the owners of property abutting thereon, and I would remark that the cost of lighting the City during 1895 was $42,527 whilst the revenue derived from the rate of 14% levied for lighting purposes on the present rateable value amounts to $49,700, leaving a balance of some $7,000 per annum only, to meet the interest on capital expenditure already incurred and that necessary to place the lighting of the public streets on a satisfactory basis, as well as the increased annual cost of maintaining the additional lights required.

6. It is not therefore my intention to enter further upon the question of lighting private streets and lanes beyond mentioning that owing to the various nature and considerable extent of the obstructions so often to be found in such streets and lanes, brackets on the walls would be of little use and probably lamps fixed on posts in the middle of the street or lane would be found the most efficient means of lighting,

7. Turning now to the question of improving the lighting of the public

streets.

The report of the Committee is somewhat difficult to follow being unaccompanied by a plan, and further it contains no indication of the general principles upon which the proposed alterations and additions are recommended.

8. Generally speaking, I am of opinion that considerable improvements may be effected in the lighting of the City of Victoria at a small cost, but before under- taking such alterations it would be well to decide on the general principles to be adopted, and I recommend that a district should be taken in hand and improved in accordance as far as practicable with the following rules :---

(a) All gas burners used to be of the pattern known as the Welsback.

(b) In streets of 50 feet and less in width the burners to be those known

as the "S" pattern.

(c) In streets exceeding 50 feet in width and at important junctions the

burners to be those known as the "C" pattern.

(d) All lamps to be placed at distances apart of about 70 yards, which

should be considered a maximum.

(e) The glazing in the upper part of all lanterns to be of opal glass.

(ƒ) All brackets to be abolished and lamp posts fixed instead.

(g) The height of lamp posts, except where carrying "clusters," not to

exceed 10 feet 6 inches.

9. Plan* marked "A" accompanying this report shews the alterations required in a portion of the central district, if the foregoing general principles are adopted.

* Plan not printed.