GREENHAYS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2440, 20 December 1892, Page 2

GREENHAYS.

By kind permission of Mr J. T. M. Hayhurst, we had, a few evenings ago, the pleasure of seeing the electrical arrangement by which his beautiful residence—Greenhays—is lit by electricity. The creek that runs through the township of Arowhenua also passes by Greenhays, and here it is dammed, and, like Goldsmith’s bed, “ contrived a double debt to pay.” It forms a nice little ornamental lake, and at the same time gives the water power by which the electricity is generated. A new American 3 \ horse-power turbine wheel has been erected at the dam, and the water is sufficient (and a great deal to spare) to turn it. This turbine not only turns the dynamo which produces the electricity, but also a high-pressure pump that fills the tanks which supply the house with water; a Californian pump, which sends water all over the beautiful grounds, greenhouses, and garden; a corn-crusher, a grindstone, and a circular saw with which wood is cut. Here we find it convenient to anticipate what we shall refer to later on, and notice an ingenious contrivance which enables Mr Hayhurst to stop the whole of the machinery by turning a switch in his bedroom after going to bed at night. After examining the turbine wheel, Mr Hayhurst asked us to pull out a little wire, which projected about an eighth of an inch out of the wall of the structure erected over the dam. Touching it gingerly, lest it might do us bodily harm, we pulled it out another eighth of an inch, and, as if by magic, the whole fabric seemed to collapse the wheel stood still, the lights went out, and the flood-gate near by opened, letting [the water, which had until then been turning night into day, run by uselessly. Immediately the machinery was put in gear again, and it was as if a supreme power had said “ Let there be light,” for there was light in the twinkling of an eye. Mr ‘ Hayhurst then showed us an electromagnet, which communicates by two wires with his bedroom. This is what enables him by turning a switch to stop the wheel, open the flood-gate in the dam, and put out the lights. He therefore can go to bed, read as long as he likes, and when he feels disposed to do so turn a switch, and darkness reigns supreme. This contrivance is no part of the turbine, but an arrangement which Mr Hayhurst, who has a turn for mechanics, has invented, and to which he has applied the electric magic. In the bedroom also is another ingenious contrivance. After going to bed Mr Hayhurst can turn a switch, and connection is effected between the doors which give entrance to the house down stairs and a tell-tale bell in, his bedroom. If any one opens the doors until the electric current is switched off again the bell rings, and Mr Hayhursst is warned. Nobody can get in or out of the house without his knowledge. Near by is a room in which is situated a 00-volt dynamo, by Messrs Siemens Bros. & Co., and which is turned by a belt from the turbine. This, of course, is what generates the electricity, and from this wires convey the current to all parts of the house. There are altogether 48 lights placed in various parts of the house and its offices. The stable, the laundry, the dairy, as well as every room in the house are lit by electricity, but the power is not sufficient to produce a good light if all are put on together. The 60-volt dynamo is capable of producing 20 lights of 16-candle power, and no more, but the number of lights on Mr Hayhurst’s premises is double that, but all need never be used together. Any one light can be used singly, or the lower part of the house can be lit, and upstairs left in darkness, and so on, and thus the capacity of the dynamo is found sufficient. On the occasion of our visit, darkness had just set in, and we rang the bell. Shortly a footstep is heard and before the door is opened we were astonished to find ourselves, in the language of the poets, bathed in a flood of soft mellow light which shed its refulgent beams all round us. A switch had been turned inside, and the electric lamp over the door on the outside had produced this instantaneous effect. On entering we find the hall lit up by lamps which give a subdued light, but the drawing room as it opens is in darkness. The servant who opens it however, is seen to touch something, and a beautifully ornamented, three-branch electrolier is immediately casting beautiful light all over the room. Here a novelty is met with in the shape of a piano lit by electricity. The wires pass into the piano and are brought through the brackets in which two lights are placed, and when the switch is turned the light is produced. The lamps arevery ornamental, and the effect is exquisite. There is no necessity in going through the whole house. It is the same in the dining room, in the breakfast room, up-' stairs and down-stairs, all that is necessary is to turn a switch, and either light, or darkness is produced. In a cosy littlesanctum up- stairs, sacred to Mrs H ayhurst,there is another novelty. The sewing machine is turned by electricity. All MrsHayhurst has to do is to take whatever material she is working, place it in the usual place on the machine, switch on the wire and away it goes, fast or slow as she desires. In the billiard room, where there is one of Alcoclrs splendid fullshwd tables, there are seven lamps, which give splendid light. This is a very interesting room. The walls are covered with curios, from the South Sea Islands' and other places, and there are several articles of a novel kind to be seen there, lu the dining room there is a movable electric reading lamp. This is supported, by an ornamental tripod, which can be taken to any room in the house, where a wipe may be switched on and light produced. Ejecfricity is all over the place, but all the wires qro insulated, aiid each has a cuhout which will fuse if any pressure is put on. The lamps can bear only a certain amount of pressure, anything beyond that would burst them. The cutout is therefore a safety valve which will not allow more electricity to pass to the lamp than it is able to stand. While sitting in the dining-room there was lying beside us something attached to a wire, which could be taken across the room.

We took it up, aud in an instant a serentered au4 vrq found we hes

rung her up. A feeling that we were in the midst of magic came over us, and bidding good night to our host and hostess, we left, wondering at the e ctraordinary capacities of that moat mysterious power—Electricity.