ANOTHER MILESTONE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 16 May 1925, Page 9

ANOTHER MILESTONE.

ELECTRICITY EOR GERALDINE

SWITCHING-ON OF CURRENT

An epoch in the history of Geraldine was marked last evening by the official bwitching-on of electricity from Coleridge. Notwithstanding tlio heavy rain that was falling, there was a large attendance of townspeople at tno ceremonv, which was held at tlio Drill Hall. The Mayor (Mr Kennedy) presided, and with linn were tlio Mayoress, Mr C. Dash, (manager ol the Power Hoard), Mr K. Mackenzie (chairman of the Geraldine County Council), and Mr T. Gunnion (cxMayor of Temuka). Punctually at 7.30 the Mayoress threw over the switch and the coming of electricity marked another milestone in tlio progress of Geraldine. Mr Kennedy, as chairman of the South Canterbury Electric Power Board, said that to date they had paid out approximately £37,500. Engineering administration and preliminary expenses accounted for £3,000; equipment plant and tools represented £5,500; while £31,000 had gone in construction and. reticulation. These figures were approximate, and until the work was further advanced the relative proportions would not bo ascertained as necessarily further payments would be mostly tinder the head of construction, and little would bo spent on equipment and plant. This item represented an asset, as a portion could bo later transferred to Waimate. Included in construction, their wages lull amounted to £4,500 the expenditure of which during six months must have benefited the district greatly. The Geraldjne-Teniuka loan money raised to date was approximately £53, 000: aucl it was coming faster than they really wanted it. In the meantime they were placing a portion of the credit balance on interest-earning deposits. In the Geraldine Temuka district, 347 consumers had made application for current, but of this numoer only 215 had so tar made arrangements' lor carrying but their installations, 'the consumers so far connected numbered 114, of whom 07 were m Temuka and 47 in • Geraldine, so tffi.t there were quite 10U jobs in the hands of contractors and 100 jobs to let. This did not include tiic Clandcboyo and Milford district. Tho position was not satisfactory and unless contractors and intending consumers make better progress the Board might have to engage its own staff for bouse wiring, as current, now being available, must be sold. Mr Kennedy said he wanted tho residents to realise that in order to ensure financial success immediate connection with the. "supply was desirable, as during' their first year, the interest charges on the Revenue Account were low, and any profit made uuring the’first year would ncip tnem out in the j'bau when tno Revenue Account carried ail the interest charges.

ru.r ' lauCuenzie, In aching uio Mayoress to accept an eioeunc rcadijj c , lamp as a memento ol tne occasion, suiu it was a long time since eieccric power was nrst coiisiuerod m ooutn Vaunterbury. Their uistnco had hi en reticuiaten, and witir that worn accompiisiied, tney were able to sv.itcn oil tiie current that evening. It was he said, to be regretted , nat their power was l hot coming irom 'Jekapo. rxouever, that seneme was not possioio at present. Tt would jicve too expensive,, and power .Irom .Lake Coiendge was .obtainable more easily and witu less 'expense. There hud been a good deal or criticism levelled at the A'ower .board, it had been said that Uolendgo',would not stand the load and would be unstable; they had thenanswer that evening, in conclusion the speaker urged the citizens to connect up immediately and roup the benefits oi electric power. in the past the criticism of Coleridge power bad made many people chary of linking up, but now that the district was reticulated, they should- avail themselves of the opportunity of using the -power. Before Jong there would be two transmission lines from Coleridge, and ’hat would minimise any break down. .The Power Board had set out to bring Coleridge to South’Canterbury; it bad done so, and deserved every credit for its verk. Mr Gunnion endorsed the words of the previous speakers, referring in eulogistic terms to the work done by Mr Kennedy, as chairman of the Power Board and as Mayor of Geraldine

Folloiving the SAvitchmg-on ceremony the Borough Council entertained members of the Povvicr Board and others at dinner,-while'a dance Avas held fer tho younger people.