TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 1195 
uniform strength with the rest of the roads. He proceeded to describe the engine, 
the stone breaker, and the working plant. The wheels of the waggons broke gauge, 
and by an adjustment of the coupling the eight wheels were made to cover a surface 
of eight feet wide, or, allowing for overlapping, would effectually roll a surface of 
from six to seven feet. The total cost of the plant was 1,104/. and this was inclu- 
sive of 309/. for the stone breaker and the van, so that the cost of the plant 
specially required was limited to the engine and waggons, or a cost of 795/. For 
a durable surface of road hand-broken metal was better, but the cost was con- 
siderably greater, being 2s. 8d. per cubic yard: while engine-broken metal cost 
Is. 10d., and this included cost of quarrymg. He concluded by saying that it 
was seldom that so entirely novel system could be set inoperation without some 
partial failures or disappointments, but this had been an exception. It worked 
even better than was anticipated, the means were seen clearly whereby some details,. 
which they left over to await experience, could be perfected, and they looked for- 
ward with confidence by means of this system to reconstructing and maintaining 
all the main lines of roads in the district, and to the increasing traffic which they 
had to carry without any additional cost to the ratepayers. And this too ina 
district where the condition of the roads was most unsatisfactory, and the prospect 
of improving them hopeless without an expenditure, which it was difficult to con- 
template providing for. 
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12. 
The Section did not meet. 
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14. 
The following Papers were read :— 
1. Electric Lighting and the Law. By Dr. Lewis Epuunps. 
The author adduced evidence to show that the stagnation in the electric lighting 
industry arises, not from the fact. that electric lighting cannot prove remunerative 
as a commercial undertaking if left to its own free development, as most other 
industries have been, but because electric lighting under the conditions imposed 
by Act of Parliament is commercially impossible. The public supply of electricity 
is now regulated by the Electric Lighting Act of 1882, and so long as that Act 
remains unamended or unrepealed, there is no opportunity for great development in 
electric lighting as a matter of public supply. 
Directly the unfortunate companies sought an Act to give them the necessary 
powers there was a great outcry See monopoly, and the success of the present gas 
and water companies was held up to the public as the result of an unfair monopoly. 
Many people seemed to forget that the existing companies are the successful 
survivors of a large number, a considerable proportion of which have proved great 
losses. If there had not been some inducement to the original investors in the way 
of future profit we should probably have had many large towns still without a 
proper supply of gas and water. The Legislature seemed to forget how much we 
owe to the encouragement of private enterprise in this country, and that we are 
indebted to it for a better supply of gas and water than any other country in the 
world. 
The electric lighting companies would not have any ground for complaint if 
the conditions imposed upon them by the Act had been a reasonable guid pro quo 
for the privilege of taking up roads or footpaths for their own purposes and the 
monopoly (more or less) of supplying a district. The fault of the Act is in placing 
such stringent conditions on persons supplying electricity, and in asking so much 
of them as to deprive them of opportunity to realise an adequate return for their 
outlay. The public grant certain concessions to a company, and it is just and 
