Shortly after 7 o'clock the necessary connection was made by the mayoress at the Wakari sub-station, and immediately each of the 115 60-candle-power lamps which stud every part of the borough shone out brilliantly.
Later in the evening a banquet was held in the Borough Council Chambers to celebrate the event.
His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin and a number of prominent city councillors were present, and numerous speeches were made congratulating the borough on its forward step.
Some people have very vague ideas as to the demands made upon those who take upon themselves the discharge of public duties.
The Mayor of North-East Valley threw a little light on the subject last night when he stated that in one year of office he had attended no fewer than 243 meetings.
Mr E. E. Stark, city electrical engineer, at the banquet in the Valley Council Chambers last night, gave some interesting information about electric lamps.
He explained that electricity was now able to compete successfully with gas owing to the advent of the metallic filament lamp such as we have in the street to-day.
The old lamps were made from carbon, but the new ones were made from tungsten, which is mined in various parts of Otago.
The new filament lamps had an efficiency of one-candle power per 1 kw, whereas the electric lamps used some time ago required 4 kw per candle power, and from that they could judge of the difference in the consumption of electricity.
• Thieves are at present throwing a very large amount of work upon the Christchurch detective force.
During the past few months no fewer than 139 bicycles have been reported as stolen.
The most peculiar feature of the majority of the thefts is that the stolen bicycle is found within a day or two after the theft is reported.
It would appear to be the practice of certain unprincipled persons to steal a bicycle whenever they have need for one, and then to leave it by the roadside or in a paddock, minus lamp and inflator, and any other easily detachable accessories. - ODT, 15.6.1909.
