Page 355 - Reading Mercury

LIGHTING COMMITTEE’S REPORT
This committee reported that they had most carefully considered the offer of the Gas
Company, and as a result desired to place before the Council the following figures.
The Gas Company’s offer was to supply 91 lamps, at 47s. 6d. per lamp, per year,
amounting to £216 2s. 6d., all to be lighted, and 74 to be kept up to midnight only,
and the other 17 to be left burning till daylight during October, November, December,
January, February, and March, and 17 to be lighted and to be left burning till daylight
during the summer months. That meant an average loss of six hours per night on 74
lamps for the six winter months. One penny per lamp per night meant 6s. 2d. per day,
or for the six months £55 10s. For the summer months the offer of the Gas Company,
for 17 lamps, from sunset to sunrise, are compared with the present system, showed a
marked deficiency, which meant a loss of £20 5s. on the six months. The amount,
considering all things, in favour of the present mode of lighting they estimated at £117
5s. 10d. In the face of these figures the committee could do no other than recommend
a continuance of the oil lighting, and they proposed that Mr. Herring’s tender for oil
should be accepted.
Mr. Watts remarked that he calculated the difference between the cost of a gas lamp,
and the cost of an oil lamp was 8s. 9d. It was the opinion of a large number of owners
of property and consumers of gas in the town, that the streets were better lighted by
gas than by oil, and though it cost more they would prefer to have that system.
Mr. Hall (chairman of the committee) said it was an error to suppose there was only
a difference of 8s. 9d. in the two lamps, as the Gas Company proposed to light the
lamps a less number of hours than was the case at present. He maintained that under
the present system they saved £100 a year.
The Ex-Mayor said he was sure the share-holders of the Gas Company would meet
the town fairly in this matter. A great deal of ill-feeling had been caused over this
question, and he would do all in his power to get it settled.
Mr. Watts moved and Mr. Churchman seconded the following resolution:-“That an
enquiry be made of the Gas Company whether they will light the present lamps of the
town for the same number of hours, as during the past year, as mentioned in the
Lighting Committee’s report, for the sum of £216 2s. 6d., and that their reply be sent
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in by Saturday morning next (the 14 inst.) In the event of non-compliance or non-
acceptance by the Gas Committee, to promptly close the contract for oil.
The proposition was carried, seven voting for, and two (Ald. Moorcock and Mr.
Sale) against it.

th
Sat 28 Sep
THE LIGHTING OF THE TOWN
At a special meeting of the Wokingham Town Council on Thursday, the Lighting
Committee presented a report which stated that a letter had been received from the
Gas Company offering to light the lamps on the terms of the proposal by the
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resolution passed at the council meeting on the 12 inst. The report was unanimously
adopted.
Other matters relating to the main roads and finance were discussed but the report
must be deferred.

nd
Sat 2 Nov
NEW TRAIN

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