MANGAHA FIVE YEARS AGO.

Shannon News, 17 February 1922, Page 3

MANGAHA FIVE YEARS AGO.

THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME * TO-DAY. ' - GOOD RECORD OF PROGRESS. During the week a representative of the News had the privilege ol paying a visit to Mangahao after a lapse of about five years, the former visit being on the occasion of the huge delegation from ail parts of the Wellington', Wairarapa and Wanganui creek, and a little further on a huge sing on the Government- the importance of pushing on with the preliminary work of the hydroelectric scheme. On that occasion the-visitors, numbering over 100, motored to die loot of the range, where the powerhouse is now situated, and were there met by a party of gentlemen from Shannon and the adjacent districts with saddle horses to make the trip over the hill. The cavalcade set out bravely from “Honeymoon Cottage, ' several portly old gentlemen cutting a ratlier r ,queer figure on horseback. i this particular point a'new and sub stantial bridge now spans the Otara creek, and a little further on a a huge work is in progress up the face of the mountainside to the outlet of the tunnel through the hill from Arapeti, through which the pipe-line will extend down the s(eep decline to tne foot of the hill, flie road leading up the side of the first range has been vastly improved since the party oi horsemen faced the sharp grades ana hairpin bends of five years ago, but nevertheless good progress was made then, and the head of the column reached a spot in tne Tokomaru Valley near where the dam is now being .formed, in good time lor lunch. Aim a right royal spread it was. The commissariat department had received particular attention, and everything was in readiness when the mounteu party arrived. Alter lunch a halt was made before tackling the most strenuous part oi the journey—the crossing of the last ridge and the descent ui-o the bed of the Mangahao, and" then travelling down-stream to the site M the proposed dam. In the Tokomaru Valley to-day, where the big delegation lunched five years ago, a scene ol great activity meets the eye. Nearby is the huge cookhouse and diningroom of the men employed on works, a good road, sweeps round ?

top oi tlie valley, and on to the .V.'ngahao, whilst in the valley below u i. j the heads of the Arapeti tunnei and the tunnel piercing tne second range towards Mangahao. Work oi' :i sorts is going on in this hasin, which will eventually form the ’ Tokomaru dam. and electric wires conveying The necessary electric energy stretch in .11 directions. Tramlines irom the tunnel mouths with their rakes of trucks run along the bed of the valley and discharge their loads ol' spoil—me hard, powdered metal from the depths ol the tunnels giving some indication oi the task ol piercing the solid rock of Hie intervening hills. Further towards tiie head of the valley is quite a little township, and several oi the married workers have neat little gardens round their houses. Here, too, is situated the post office, stores department and Y.M.C.A. hall. FiVe years ago the majority of the delegation left their horses about the site of this township, and from mere footed it to the top of the line of hills overlooking the Mangahao Valley. From there down the steep hillside was thick, heavy hush, but nothing daunted, the party scrambled down into the riverbed • below. They were still a mile or more above the dam site, and the going down the riverbed over boulders, fallen trees and heaps 01. debris made very heavy tra veiling, but all gathered safely on the little shingly beach at the site of the dam, were “snapped” and had a wellearned rest before tackling the stiff climb out of the valley to the hill-top. This was accomplished in due course, but tlie travellers were disgusted on returning to the .site of the camp where lunch was served to find that the members who did not care to face the last stretch on loot, had polished of the remainder of the eatables. and all the liquid refreshments. When tlie visitor leaves the Tokomaru or Arapeti camp to-day lie finds himsefi an a well-graded road, which winds delightfully through fine stretches ol maiden hush. Not lar along the road on the left the P.W.D. has an up-to-date sawmill at work, which supplies all the timber necessary in the hydroelectric scheme, and for the erection of houses or other buildings that are necessary.

The grade continues good right to the Mangahao Valley, mid the car comes to a halt just above the site cl the dam. But what a change from live'* years ago! On each side of the dam site, and particularly cn hie eastern side, the bush has been cleared back. A power-house nestles on the western bank, and on the opposite bank there are great signs of activity. The workers’ huts form quite a; big camp, and there are besides departmental buildings, store rooms, cook house, blacksmith shop, etc. Permanent works are being constructed at the top Tsnd of the dam and neaiby a

party of men are blasting away the rock. At the site of the huge wa that will span the valley and hold the water, men are delving deep in the rocky formation, whilst right down on the water level a drive has been ouened up. Everywhere there is ac SSy right bach to the hillside -w* looking Shannon, and taking all that has been accomplished in the com paratively short time since the scheme has been taken in hand mistic enough to hope that the cast of the engineers that the powe will be available at the end o • will "be realised, and that Mtogahao will then commence to jevolutions this portion of the Island wi r lluvv of electric file and energv.