Mangahao— Pioneer Pioneer

Chronicle (Levin), 22 September 1949, Page 3

Mangahao— Pioneer Pioneer

Pioneer link in the chain of power stations now cover.ing the Nofth Island, Mangahao has reached the 25th year . of its succes^nii cpsration and can loolc jack on a quarter of a century of achievement that is closely bOimd up with the past, present and future progress of New Zealand. Many of Shannon's residcnts we.l remember Noveihber „3, 1924, when the . then Prime Minister, the late Hon. W. F. Massey, who wa s accompanied by the late Hotu J. .G. Coates, the Minister for Public Works, perforihed the opening ceremony and threw the switches that gave us electric power for the first time. Shannon was en fete for the occasion and the function- at the powerhouse was fonowed by a banquet in the town. It w'as early in 1915 that investigations were first made and the first surveys for the construction of the scherne started that year at Arapen. In 1919 the work on the two tunne s began and the construction of the two dams; the pipe lines and the power station followed. One ' tunnel whi.ch was driven through the range between the Matfgahao River and Arapeti is 1250 feet above sea level and is orie riiile long and seven feet in diameter. Another of the big tunnels through the range behind Shannon is one and a half miies long and eight feet in diameter. This tunnel is sadiy remembered as the scene of a shocking acci'dent when on July 3, 1922, six men, working from the Arapeti end, lost their lives. They included Mr. W. Milier, the engineer in charge, and a local man, Mr. Bernard Butler. From its incep-ion the Mangahao hydro scheme has meant much to Shannon, especially in the constructional days when the town boomed as it had never done before. A prominent figure in thd construction was the civil engineer in charge, Mr. A. Dinnie, who was assisted by Mr. G. *P. Anderson, who also did much of the early surveying. It- is indeed imfortunate that both these gentlemen have now passe'd away as it would have been fUting for them to be present at the celebrations. Gthers coanected with constructioh were Mr. T. A. Johnston and the late Mr. W. Miller, who were in charge of sub-sections of the work. Electrical erection was fn charge of i the late Mr. A. Gavey. The first | station superin>.endent was Mr. A. j R. Blackwood, who retired in 1944. | His successor was Mr. J. D. OampI bell, the present superintendent,

who is assisted by Mr. C. Elvines. Silver Jubilee CeremOny. Marking Mangahao's silver jubilee an olncial ceremony to which the public are invited, will take" p.ace next Saturday at 2.15 p.m. in front of tjie powerhouse. The principal speaker will be the Minister of Works and Minister-in-Charge of the State Hydro -Electric Dbpartment (Mr. Semple), other speakers being Mr. M. It. Ordiii, M.F. for Manawatu, Mr. D. A. Fitzgerald (Mayor of Shannon), Mr. J.,A. Nash (president of the Electric Power Boards aird Supply Autnorities Association of New Zealand), Mr. A. E. Davenport, generai manager of the * State Hydro-Electric Department, and Messrs F. T. Kissei, and F. W. Furkert, chief electfical ^ engineer and the- engineer-in-chief respectively to the Public Works Department in . 1924.