THE MANGAHAO SCHEME.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 2 June 1919, Page 4

THE MANGAHAO SCHEME.

WORK PROGRESSING,

The quiet valley of Arapeti, which nestles down among tho bush-cushioned slopes of the hills to the cast of thp town of Shannon, has had its tranquility disturbed by the march of civilisation on more than one occasion. It is some years since the sound of the bushinan's axe first broke its serene quietness, and later on it became a scene of bustling activity when a tiuiUer mill was established there, and rails'were laid over the hills to carry the logs to the outer world. When the timber supply was exhausted, the val- . ley was again left to return to its natural solitude, guarded only by the snow-clad heights of the Tararuas ! i which tower above it, and visited ocea- ' I sionally by a passing shepherd in search of stray members of his flock. 1 The valley is again ' beginning ,to show signs of activity within its limits. Twenty or so trim little tents, the abodes of some forty pioneers of the Mangahao electric supply scheme, are dotted hero and there along the little stream which divides the broad bosom of the ravine. These arc tho forerunners of more temporary' houses, which will be tho homes of-the- men who are to harness up for the uses of civilisation the tremendous -force of electricity which it is possible.to galvanise with life, with the aid of the mountain-streams in the vicinity, .fust now the centre of activity is

along the narrow road which winds up through the hills to the valley. This has to be widened and extended before the. machinery for starting the real work of constructing the necessary tunnels, dams, etc., can be transported to tho site. There arc about four and a-half miles of roading to be done, and contracts have been let for the construction of two miles of it. Eight gangs are at. work, and already considerable progress has been made. Probably more men will be engaged to complete the remaining two and a-half miles, and so the worklwill be carried on as expeditiously as possible. In tho meantime, the necessary surveys, etc., in connection with the preliminary operations arc being carried out by Mr Anderson, the Public Works engineer, and his staff. A "Times" reporter who was over tho ground recently noticed that flags had boon laid out to mark a bridle track over tho hills as a short cut on to the main road, and there is evidence that a considerable amount of work of a less obvious nature -is also being carried out.