A RED-LETTER NIGHT

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 51, 7 January 1953, Page 1

A RED-LETTER NIGHT

TAUPO'S OWN POWER SCHEME IN ACTION "AND THERE WAiS LIGHT" As the result of prolonged unfavourable weather conditions the prospects of switch ing on the eurrent from Taupo's own power scheme at Hatepe before Christmas was very uncertain. In the edition of the "Times"^ due for publication on Christmas E^e it was impossible to say more than that the event was just around the eorner, wiring up being almost completed. . On Tuesday, December 23rd., however, the prospc ts had so far advanced to the 1 stage of eompletion that it was decided to switch on the current that night, and the. word was passed round that the public could assemble in Rickit's Hall in the expectation of witnessing an inferesting cedemony. There were yarious rumours, of course. Oue said that zero hour was 7 p.m. Anht'her, 8 p.m. -A thi-rd, 9 p.m. And so on. Actually the last flnishing touehes were not finalised to the satisfaction of the Engineer-in-Chargve, Mr Mandeno, till shortly before ten o'clock. The public in the meantime had endured the interval of waiting with good humoured patience, a contributing faHor being musical interludes by a dance band and chorus items led by Mr Tiemey. Curtain Up. Presently there was a stir in the hall and the members of the Town Board, with Mr Mandeno, mounted ihe platform, and the real business of the evening began. In a brief speech, the Chairman of the Board, Mr J. E. Story, said that he was thankful to be able to say that the long struggle against the difficulties and problems of the Taupo Hydro Power Seheme were over to the extent that the current could now •be switched on. He could not say enough in admiration of the work of the contractmg firms and staif through whose efforts the scheme had come to fruition. The Tapper Construction Company, the Tokoroa Engineering Company, and Mr Jim Lysoght and his men, had earned the gratitude of all for their labours under adverse weather conditions to get the job done (applause). Mr Mandeno, invited to address the gathering, said whimsically that that. the present was not the first oceasiou that he had addressed a public meeting in Taupo in connection with the hydro scheme. > He recalled previous meetings at which opposition and cpiticism had to be met. He paid a tribute to the Town Board for the manner in which it had baeked him through thick and ihin, and to the contractors and working staff for their eo-operation in getting the job done. The tests so far had been satisfactory, but further tests \fould be necessary belore the scheme was through its fecthing troubles, and he wou^i make no rash promises. Incidentally, he wanted to acknowledge the courtesy and co-operation of the Maori property-owners whose lands were adjaoent to the hydro-seheme, and who had facilitated the exploratory work in the initial •stageS (applause). Mr J .D. Swan, deputy-Chairman of the Board, said that while he had not always seen eye-to-eye witlj, the Chairman on this project, he wanted to say that had it not been for Mr Story, who was t'he man behind the

gun, they woulcl not have had the light that night (applause). Other speakers were Miss K. O. Lewis, Messrs K. E. Young, W. G. Morris, W. T. Indne, and C. R. Vcdder, members of the Town Board, who added their tributes to the ettorts of the Chairman, the Contrcatcrs, and staff s, for what had been achieved. Especially complimented, amid applause, was Mr Story, who hac| wonked untiringly seein-g to the comfort and refreshment of the working staffs in the last strenuous days and hours of the job. Mr G. S. Anchor, speaking as a former member of the Board, rei'erred to tihe discussions of the past They could all sympathise, he said, with the women of Taupo in the in?enveniences they had had to put up with, and who could now look iorward to enjoying the benefits of mo jarn domestic labour-saving appliances (Applaase). Mr Ralph "Ward, also speaking as % former member of the Board, recalled such burning guestions as the expenditure of £20 for the services of a consulting engineer to give, his ■riews on an electricity scheme. He paid a high tribute to Mr Mandeno as "one of the leading . hydro-engi-ncers in New Zealand," referred with admiration to the splendid pioneer work. of Dr J. S. Armstrong, when Chairman of the Board, in furtherng the present scheme (applause). "Let There Be LightvT At this juncture, Mr W. L. Full'ames appeared on the platform with n old. oil lam p and a tomahawk, and 'nvited Mr Story to ;give the old ystem represented by the lamn its death blow with the axe. This was luly accomplished, amid laughter. Mrs Story was then called upon to nvitch on the current from the new power scheme. "This is the happiest day of my life,'5 she said amid heers. With one switch she turned the current from the old lighting dan-t, plunging the hall in darkness. Vith another click ihe new current ame on, brigfotly illuminating the all, while in the main stree.t; out-

■ S(nl », laUiSHt ■ i ' ■ sido coloured lights festooned across the road at various points proclaimed to the community that at long last there was light. And Refreshments. Those present in the hall were then the guests of Mr and Mrs Story when a sumptuous supper was j served all round, while in an anteroom appropriate celebrations were were also set in train. It was a great night for Taupo. If the town did'n't get its hall by Christmas, it certainly gots its electricity.