THE COMING OF LIGHT.

Shannon News, 25 May 1923, Page 3

THE COMING OF LIGHT.

SERVICE LINES TO BE PUT IN HAND AT ONCE.

HOROWHENUA BOROUGHS ON THE ALERT.

The various centres in the Horowhemia Electric-Power District are keenly oh the alert to get their allotment of power and light at the earliest opportunity. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Board the Chairman, Mr Monk, said the Engineer, Mr Overton, hoped to start on the erection of the service lines immediately. These are the lines that will distribute the power from th® Public Works’ Department’s main transmission line. Mr Overton said the work would begin from Shannon and proceed towards Foxton, thence to Levin and Otaki. Mr W. 11. Gunning (Shannon) remarked that within a radius of 12 miles of Shannon iive-seVeuths of the Board’s total allocation of power would be sold. Ho mentioned the number of Uaxmills, dairy factories and dairy farms that would take power in the vicinity of Shannon, and urged that the Board’s policy should be to get its revenue from the area that eould be easiest developed with a minimum of expense. Mr Monk said there were just as pressing enquiries at the southern end of the district as there were adjacent to the developing point. He was convinced that the Board had practically got to cover the whole length of the district by the time the power was available. He realised, of course, that the flaxmills would be the largest consumers and that they were going to be an important source of revenue. Mr Gunning said Shannon had no street lighting at present, They had been hanging oil' in the hope of getting electric lighting before this. The Borough Council was faced with the necessity of doing something this winter and the use of carbide lamps ivas under consideration. This ivould involve considerable capital expense as well as subsequent maintenance. It was suggested, however, that if Shannon ivas reticulated, and the Board was agreeable, there might be some way of getting electric light before the Mangahao supply was available, either by an auxiliary engine or in some other way.

; The Chairman said the Board had put back certain tenders for material on account of the Mangahao supply not being available when expected. If that material was available it would not take very long to reticulate Shannon, and possibly it would not cost a great deal to supply light by means of an engine. He suggested referring the matter to the Engineer and Finance Committee to go into. One aspect that appealed to him was that the Board might be able to get a dairy farm linked up where they could demonstrate the possibilities of electric light and power. That might be well worth the Board’s while.

Mr Kilsby (Otaki): What about Otaki? Cannot something be done there!

The Chairman: You arc going back on us there and putting in Pelton wheels (laughter). However, I am on my honour so far as Otaki is concerned. I have given them a promise that they will be given light at the euTc.st possible moment.

Mr Seifert said his company had an engine that he would be glad to put at Shannon’s disposal for street lighting purposes. Mr Gunning’s request was referred to the Engineer and Finance Committee. The Chairman said he could congratulate each centre on having a good battler to look after its interests.