ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18398, 3 June 1925, Page 11

ELECTRIC LIGHT.

SUPPLY TO PREBBLETON. SWITCHING ON CEREMONY. Quite the most important- function winch nan taken place in tho Frcbblcton district for many yedrs -was the switching on of the electric current on Monday afternoon, and a large number of residents and- visitors from tho surrounding districts assembled in the Public Hall for the occasion. The school children, headed by the Frebbleton Brass Band, under Deputy-Band-master J. Cooke, marched in procession from tho school to tho hall, where Mr James Leslie, chairman of the Paparust County Council, presided over the gathering. Apologies for absence were received from Sir E. Tleaton Rhodes, Mr Albert Freeman (of Riecartou), Mr A. Langdale-Hunt, and the Eev. 1". 11. llawie. Tho chairman congratulated Prebblcton upon at length receiving the light for which the p-jcplc had agitated for some years, and expressed a wish that very rooii the whole of the county would be reticulated. Mr G. Witty, M.P., expressed pleasure at being present in his old district for the ceremony, and referred to tho many uses .to which electricity could be put both in the house and on the farm. Ho was sure the people deserved it, and were thankful to those who had first agitated for its installation. He then asked Mrs Barbara Smith, a lady S7 years of age, and a resident of more than 60 years in rrebblcton, to switch on tho light. Bv pulling a cord attached to n. rcttf switch, Mrs Smith lighted the hall, and on behalf of the residents, Mr Witty presented Mrs Smith with a clock as a memento of the event. Mrs Smith briefly acknowledged the gift, and was heartilv cheered.

Mr J. "\V. Prebble,-a member of tlio familv, who founded Trcbbleton, said how glad ho was that the efforts of the people and of the members of tlio Couucil had at last, been crowned with success. He briefly traced the history of the township from tho early days until Iho present time, stating that ho had seen tho first school built there, also tho churches and the hall, and in his 08 years' residence had witnessod, many changes. He hoped that now tho district : was reticulated it would make rapid growth, and shortly become tho prosperous contre it was fitted to bo. Ho said that the light had been obtained through co-operation, and that co-operation was what was needed among the farmers and upon the farms. Mr J. Kingan, who represents the Prebbloton Riding on the Paparua County Council, and is also a member of the Springs-Ellesmcro Power Board, said that the day would long bo remembered in tho district. He did not think there was another portion of the Board's district where such a largo percentage of people had joined Mr Geo. -Maginness, another member of tho Board, referred to tho many uses to which the current might be put, and said that 'it was the intention of tlio Board cvontually to light tho roads through the township. He cortgratuJated the people upon receiving the power. _ ~ Mr L. C. Vickery tho Power Board s engineer, said that Prebbleton owed its current largely to the members of the Board, who had been energetically working towards this end for a very long 'time. Owing to a, fault in the line it had been doubtful that morning whether tho current could be turned on in the afternoon, but the defects had been remedied in time for the ceremony to tako place at the hour arranged. He stated that 70 miles of wire, 300 poles, and 12000 insulators had been'.used inthe reticulation. ■' _' . ; . Another member of the Board, Mr J. C. Free, urged all.those who were not yet connected up to make haste and apply for the power. He had been against the inclusion of Prebbleton in the Power Board's area, as a large area, presented many difficulties in the working. The• electricity belonged'to the people and the rights over it should always be controlled by the GovernI ment. Ho added a,word of warning to the children against -touching broken ■ wires and to the housewives against lea,ving their iron switch turned on whilo they were engaged in'other duties. He said he had always felt that Prebbleton should be more progressive than it was, but he hoped that now a start had been, made, first with the concrete' channelling, ■ now • with, electricity, that .the place would go ahead and progress rapidly. , Mr J. Henley, also a member of-the Council and of the Power Board, added his congratulations and wished the district every success with the current. Mr J.-'W. Prebble moved a vote of thanks to the -chairmen and the members of the Board who had worked so hard. Mr J. Kingan thanked the Hall Com-: mitte© for its co-operation in the preparations for the afternoon's function, and moved n hearty vote of thanks to them. All those present, including the school children, were afterwards entertained at afternoon tea. In the evening' the ' installation of electric light was commemorated by a odanec given by the Hall Committee in the Public Hall. . Tho attendance was very large, there being many visitors from neighbouring centres, and.a large number of spectators in addition to the dancers. '. The hall was effectively'decorated with coloured paper streamers and festoons of coloured lights greatly enhanced the . effect, '.- Mr G. Millar, chairman of the committee, who was also M.C for the entertainment, publicly, thanked all who had assisted in the preparations for the dance, and also. Mr S. Porscutt, who installed the hall" plant, aiid who had been to considerable trouble in the matter of special lighting for the occasipu. Spirited dance music was supplied by Miss.Griffiths's Band, extras being played by Miss I?. Eaglesomc. A' sumptuous supper, was served by the members of the committee. Among the many present were.:Misses Griffiths (3), Eaglesome, Malonev, Bogal (2), ■ MeLeod, Thompson, Cooke, Coleman,- Carpenter (2), Smith (3), Carney, Gallagher (2), V. Dycc, Doyle, Boyle, Freeman, Yeatman (2),' Cherry, Forscutt, Caruth, Chappeil, Campion, Chapman (2), Giles (i), Mesdames Kingan, Cherry, Hammond, Prendergast, Ko'.kmaii, Hands, Maxey, Housten, Prebble, Maginness, A. Gallagher, L. Gallagher, J. Gallagher, W. Gallagher. Walker. Goss, Thompson, J. Cooke 3 , Lougstaffe, Giles. Hartnell. Millar, Macintosh, J. Smith, P. Smith, Bigham, Carney, Beamsley, G. Chappeil, P. Holsou, Woodgate, G. Smith, Messrs g! Millar, Bigham (2), -Cherry, Prendergast, " Nicholas, Kingan, Mellwraith, Maxey, Hartnell (3), Hobson, Gilbert, Prebble. McNallv, Campion, Maginess, G. Smith, McGill, J. Smith, Walker (2), Macintosh (3), Loiigstaffe, Coleman, Woods, Maloney (2), Pike, Knipe, Cooke- (3), Gallagher.(4), Hammond, Housten, .Chappeil. Stevens, Giles, Hands, Kolkman (3), Prestidge, Forscutt, and others. -