LIGHT AND POWER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 185, 8 August 1927, Page 15

LIGHT AND POWER.

MARYBOROUGH'S GREAT DAT

NEW ELECTRIC PLANTT STARTED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

BLENHEIM, this day.

Saturday •was a red letter day for Marlboiougli, for the light from the Waihopai hydro-electric scheme was turned on.

The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, accompanied by fifteen members of Parliament, including the member for the district, Mr. W. J. fiirlinp, and the Leader of the Opposition, Air. H. E. Holland, went out to the headworks at Benopai, where the Minister formally turned the switch setting the machinery in motion. Mr. Williams paid a tribute to the energy and foresight of the people of the district and said he trusted that the spirit of co-operation between town and country would go on. He also congratulated the Power Board on having used concrete poles, madu locally by local labour, and said other power boards throughout the country were watching the experiment with keen interest. After an inspection of the dam and the powerhouse, the party returned to Blenheim, where the streets were crowded with people, and when, at eight o'clock, the Minister turned the switch which lighted up the town, the advent of the new light was greeted with cheers, and the band played Marlborough's anthem "Marlborough Will Shine." '

The Parliamentary party returned to Wellington by the Tutanekai about midnight.

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