MALVERN POWER BOARD.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18408, 15 June 1925, Page 13

MALVERN POWER BOARD.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING FOR DARFIELD.

OFFICIAL CEREMONY.

One of the most important events, ever held in the Darficld Memorial' Hall, took place on Thursday evening, when the electric light was officially turned on in tho presenco of a huge gathering of GOO, people representative of the Malvern district, including many distinguished visitors'.' Tli'e hall was brilliantly illuminated with-000 lights of numerous' colours, tho' predominating colours being red, green, blue, amber, and white. Those lights" Were suspended in festoons: from the sides to the centro of the hall, where was suspended a beautiful sun howl. The reflection of the different lights on the frocks of the ladies formed a magnificient sp'ectacle. In the supper room, a number of artistic Miller tables shaded lamps gave a most effectivo illumination to the room. Messrs Turnbull and. Jones, Christchurch, supplied all these lights gratis for the occasion. . The 'Maker(i Power Board supplied the power free of charge for the evening. Mr Bradford's orchestra supplied the music. The programme commenced' at 8 p.m. with an overture by the orchestra. ' Other items were duet, Misses Xolan; sonpr, Miss V. Clinton; instrumental trio, Mrs J. H. Jarnian, Miss.Gladys Vincent, Miss Gladys Barker; vocal trio, Mrs Pat ton, Mrs Boland, and Miss Clinton; violin solo, Miss Gladys Vincent. In his opening remarks. Mr W. '"W. Mulholland, chairman of the entertainment committee, extended a .cordial welcome to the guests and visitors from the surrounding districts. The occasion had been looked forward to with keen anticipation by. the Power Board. Be referred.to the incidents which led up to,this momentous event, commcnciiigi first with the completion of -the Lake Coleridge power station. The. transmission lines, traversed the district, butat a voltage that prevented the localpeople from taking a supply. From that-time there was. a, strong .desire amongst many local.people for..supply . of current, but it did.not .find definite ; expression until the winter of .1919, when a, deputation'•■representing the local. branch of the Farmers' ; Union and other residents waited. .011. the Malvern County Council and requested the Council to consider a movement in this direction. On November 6th, 1919, 'a meeting of ratepayers representative of the three counties,, who have.'.since been included in the Malveni power district- was convened by the Malvern Council. That meeting requested the three counties to set up-a provisional committee. appointing .two; members each. The Malveni County Council appointed Mr G. H. Judd, and asked the Darfield Farmers' Union to suggest a second _ representative, the speaker being nominated. The committee,,- of -which -Mr Judd was' elected chairman, continued in. existence until the election of-the Power Board',.-in •1923.. It was .decided on the GtK.July, 1920, to obtain a' report from Mr J.. M. ■-...Teniplin . (consulting engineer"). This was not submitted to the committee until March: 2nd,'; 19.22, and it confirmed.the committee's opinion in regar<) to certain' aroa- r |. but was not vary optimistic respecting jthb more spgrsely populated districts. On the strength of the rep,or,t the committco asked" the, various county councils tp tako the necessary ' steps to form a Power Board, but before'; anything wfts done information was received- that' the Government woiild .not consent, to ; .a Power. Board being formed, but would' insist on.these counties joining Springs-. Ellesmere, a. course of action which, owing to geographical -considerations, wais not favoured. The SpringsBllcsmere Power Board also was npt.iit favour of: the proposal. . Mr J,ud<i', met the Minister for Public;, Works the; followini? August in Cliristchtircli; . The question was ; then thrashetl out andi it was agreed to allows a Power Board to bo formed. The proposed .Hoard was allowed to share in the* luie installed by the .Jlailway Department, and'this had had an important bearing on the retiailation. After n- canvass of the district had been made a deputation was sent to the Minister ;on June oth, and on Juno 28th, 1923,; the proclamation of; the».Power Board district was gazetted. An election;-was held on August 30th, 1923, when the first Board was elected, the success!ul. candidates being' Messrs J. Deans. J. IX Hall,; G. hj; Judd, H. Mitlei> W.. AV. iuulholland and H. Oliver, who are still in office. Mr Judd had-re-tained the office of chairman, early spring- of 1924 the first pole was erected by 1110 Board at Darfield, opposite Dr. McMillan's residence. . Mr G. H. Jiidd, chairrtian of the Malvern Pcwver Board, returned thanks for the large attendance, f Ho thanked the Malyern County Council,. tho father of'. the electrical supply, scheme, which had advanced the necessary' moiiey to investigated tho also . Mr Cliniie, of the ■ Christchurch Progicss League, who in thej• initial stages of the proposal did yeoman organising work. Mr Templin, the consulting engineer, had also given great assistance. From an industrial viewpoint Darfield had great possibilities. It would be -& suitable; place for at- flourmill, now that the power was available. They wero fortunate in being able to: secure poles to carry the wires. They! owed much to those public spirited men who sowed the seed of the trees from which poles were now cut. The success of the Board's operations -'had been assured by the remarkable and extraordinary response; from tho peopie.' Mr G. "Witty, M.P., heartily, congratulated the residents on the great boon they had received. - Mr J.'-K. Archer, Mayor of Christchurch, extended..-;the .greetings and good wishes of the people - of Christchurch.. T"here should be co-operation between the country and town: residents, he said. The former repesented tho .producers and the .latter th© consumers, and for mutual/benefit the two must be brought into... close contact. In the matter of electric supply j the? broadminded people of the city desired no rivalry with the. Power Board. I Should the -Waimakariri be harnessed, they wanted .tho whole.district to benefit. -Tho^progress. of tho future dopericH ed. moro and more on i;lie utilisaft>a i of ..tho latent resources of nature and these:.wero illimitable. Mr G. Forbes, M.P.,.in extending his good wishes to: the residents and Power Board, cited several etories to illustrate tho benefits; of. tho light from every point of view; , ' - Mr H. A. Knight (chairman pi the Malvern County Council) also spoke. 3£r H. Holland (Christchurch) delivered a veiy interhstiuc and instructive address on the advantages of the electric power for light. Jieai and laboursaiving in general. . .Mr J. R. Templin said that the .residents should be proud of the men on their Board,' they did their work in; a thorough businesslike manner. . •'.-., -\^ Mr P. -K". Climie, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, joined in congratulating the people, ou ..acquiring tho light-in their, district. . Mrs Judd then turned on the current. The moment; the -master' switch was turned- on every lamp in the; hall lighted brightly to the accoinpaniinent of cheers from the large audience. Mrs Judd duly declared the light-turned'on; The following apologised for, their unavoidable absence; Sir Heaton and Lady

Rhodes, the Hon. D. lluddo, Hon. • Noswoithv, Messrs J. Cunningham, Is.. Murthison, Sim, G. Mnginness rind l>r. Simpson. Mo-isis S. Taylor and 11. Ldtfe carlicd out the duties of Maftprs of Ceiemony during tho dance. Among tho luige gathcuug wcio noticed Mis J. K. Aichci (Alajoicss, Clmstchuich), M:B McAlpinc, Mis 'ltnplin, Mib H A. Knight, Mia Jflrman, sen., Mr* Gilhmdeis, Mrs R. Boul, Mrs J. Wcid, Mis Kedfctn, Mis McMillan, Mts W. P. Xolan, Mrs Dunne, Mrs Coombs, Mis Bolund, ins (i H. Judd (Sheffield), Mrs Millci (Rusecll'a Flat), Mie tiohoitshaw (ttassell's Flat), Mrs Matheson (Springfield), Mm, Chrystall (Chnrtclnirch), Mis W. Polo, Mis Norton, Mrs Clinton, fen., Mis Kaibcy, Mis Dunfan, Mrs "W. W. Mulholl.ind, W.-8 O'dndge, Mrs Coot, Mis Dr. McMillan, Mrs Hr'nncsay, Mrs Boland, Mrs Shipley (uiecndalc), Mia Jarnmn, ]un„ Mrs C. G. Jaimun, Mu Smith (Springfield), Mrs Sturgcss (Annat), Mti HowiH (bpiingfiefrl), Mis J. Wo'.bli, Mrs Painter, Mrs "\Vcsh\ood, Mrs JJrovn (Gicjnumlh), Mrs G. Warien, Mia .Boalt},, Mrs Ruabatch, Mrs Barrett lllororala), Mtsse3 ■TnTinan, Coffey (Spnngfield), McMcckm (Spungfield), Naismith (Springfield), Nolan (Snnngficld), Cossar, Bryaon, Robinson, Chapman, Glanville, Rcdfcrn (2). Ru?batch (2), Bull, Painter, Taylor (2), Oliver (Hororata) (2), Xolan (2), Mavis Gray (Hororata), Calloway (Hororata), -Melt enzie (Horoiata), Bloom (Hororata), Mtesrs Sjuica (4), Kobertsoji (Ru-ssc-iVh Plat), Matheson (Springfield), Mi'lilvch (Springfield), R. Gillandsis Nolson (SpringfifM), Coffey (Springfield), (Sprmgfield), Redfom (2), Smith (Springfield), /Gillar.dois (2), G. Thompson (Racccourso Hill),. Tovnshend, Jorman, Cuiran (Sheffield), Rev. T Pnterson (Kirweo), Wan en, Bridge (3), Sanson. Paiso-is, Edpo (.I),,Mw (2), Taykr, Gibons, "Wcstwood, Cook, Naibcy, Nolan, Pole, Gallagher, John's, Wright (Sheffield), Robinson, McMillan (3). Chvjsfftl (Chrifttchurch), .T Read (a),' 11. H. Reed, Duncan (2), Morrison (0), Clinton (2), C-onin, Slobb (2), King, Wilflojaf, Oldridge,, Cogan '(2), Jones, -Bonlton. Revcloy; >'3), Jugd; (.1), ■Rlattery, Kirk, Covkill; Bultner (3), j3oycc,-Snco (Chri'Mcluirph), Dr. I).. McMillan, Glanville, McCnnsland (2), "W. Patton, Hatlong(Christchurch), Torrcncc, Clark, Simcß, (2), Rout (Kirwce), Ottpn, Bilbrough, and many others.' .. '..'.■■ On Friday : "afternoon -the school child- 1 ren assembled in the Memorial 'Hii.ll arid Mr.C.W. Payno, resident engineer to the Power Board, explained to the children how tho power wasproI dnced. Mr A. Holland, chairman of the committee, thanked Mr Payne, .Messrs Turn bull- and Jones and tho Power Board. Musical items were igiven by the-Misses Nolan.. .... i