WHEN WILL MANGAHAO BE READY?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2597, 23 June 1923, Page 1

WHEN WILL MANGAHAO BE READY?

WN EVER-PRESENT QUESTION,

POWER BOARD TO CANVASS FOR CONSUMERS. The Horowhenua Power Board decided at Tuesday’s meeting to engage an installation inspector and in the meantime to give him the work of! canvassing the district and securing agreements with prospective consumers with a view to forming groups for subsequent installations, This action was taken on the Engineer’s recommendation. Mr A. Ross (Foxton) enquired as to the progress of the Mangahao works and .whether they would be ready to give power at the stipulated time.

Mr Monk, the chairman, said that as far as lie knew the work was going on satisfactorily and the authorities had no reason to doubt that they would be ready at the scheduled time. He had been discussing with the Engineer the matter of linking up users of light and power and they agreed that no lime should he lost in the matter. Two of their boroughs had no lighting supply at present, while the other two had gas plants. The need was not so pressing in the two latter as in the former. The Board might find on a canvass, for instance, that Ota Id would be a far better proposition than, say, Foxton. The Board would have to go first where it would get the most business. The Engineer had made an offer to Foxton in regard to Street lighting and they had reduced the number of lights and wished still further to re - duce them. Otaki was more likely to increase its demand, and it might pay the Board to push on with the line to Otaki. Mr Ross said that according to hoar-say it was going to he two years before they got the power. Mr Matheson (Levin) supported the intention to get on with the canvass as soon as possible and to develop the districts that offered the best prospects of business. Ml- \V. FI. Cunning (Shannon) said lie had been in close touch with the works lately and he- could say that it was pretty generally believed by the authorities there that the works would b ready by the time mentioned —August of next year. By June next they expected to be able to give Wellington City power. The chairman: In that case they will be able to give it to us before then. Mr Gunning said he had been over tlie ground as late as last Sunday and it, was quite apparent things were beginning to shape themselves now. He detailed the progress with the surge chamber, pipe lines, and tunnels. The heavy castings were coming forward and being got into position. He believed that the authorities had no doubt about being ready. Air C. Kilsby (Otaki) strongly favoured pushing on with the work of canvassing. The further advanced they were with their reticulation the more pressure they would be able to put on the Government in the matter. "Let’s be the first fiorse in,” fie added. Air Alclvay said the Board had to take a little risk as well as the Government,

Air Aionk remarked that lie had heard wild rumours such as that the Government would have to ahandon Alangahao but he disregarded such statements.

Art slated (.he Beard decided to engage an installatmu Inspector and lu push on with a canvass oi the district with a view to ascertaining the number oi' consumers likely to be linked up.