ELECTRICITY AT HOMEDALE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 87, 13 April 1944, Page 6

ELECTRICITY AT HOMEDALE

SWIfCHING ON CEREMONY.

The electric power was officially connected to 35 new dwellings erected at JJomedale, Wainui-o-Mata, yesterday, when over 350 people were present at a function held in the Wainui-o-Mata Hall Bond-holders in Wainm-o-Mata Development, Ltd., were present from all parts of the Dominion, and local residents were also well represented. Since the first dwellings were erected at Homedale in 1940 the installation of electricity has been delayed on account of the shortage of materials and labour due to war conditions, and ihe dwellings now have the advantage ol this modern convenience. Mr. A. Walker, chairman of the Hutt Valley Electric Power > Board, presided at the gathering. In the course of his address Mr. Walker referred to the unavoidable .delay in connecting the suburb with electricity owing ; to the difficulty in obtaining materials during the war. He stated that his Board had always been sympathetic to representations for ■ installations m outlying districts, and that now the power was available at Homedale the only other district in the Board's area to be connected was the Kaitoke district. The Chairman then called on. Miss Poole, daughter of Mr. H. -J. Poole, Senior, of Lower Hutt, to switch, on the power. . . ■ ■. Mr. F. Wise, Managing Director of Wainui-o-Mata Development, Ltd., thanked the representatives of the Power Board for their consideration j and assistance in completing the installation under the present difficult conditions. He then referred to the recent developments at Homedale; which -included a regular and convenient bus service to Lower Hutt Railway Station at a fare for workers of 5s for 12 trips.' A' water supply had been installed .and this water supply would eventually be handed over to the district without loan or rate charges. Extensive drainage of land had been undertaken and had proved to be very satisfactory. Over 20 per cent, of land included in the existing subdivisions had been set aside as reserves and sports areas. • Consideration is being given.to the formation of a fire brigade. Finance for the erection of the dwellings had been avail-, able from the Homedale Investment Co., Ltd., a company formed by shareholders and bondholders of Wainui-o-Mata Development, Ltd. At the present time it was not possible under existing conditions to cope with the applicants wishing to erect dwellings at Homedale.

Mr. E. F. Hollands, Engineer and Manager of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, mentioned that the cooperation between the Development Company and his Board had made it possible to hold the ceremony six weeks after work had started on the erection of four miles of power line. He paid a tribute to the members of the staff of the Board who had carried out the work in such a short time.

Mr. H. E. Combs, M.P., congratulated, the residents on the fact that electricity was now available- in their homes. He stated that he considered that the property at Homedale was suitable for the purpose of erecting dwellings for returned soldiers and he would impress this fact upon the Rehabilitation Board. '

Other speakers were Mr. J. J. Maher (Hutt Valley Power Board). Mr. F. G. Gibbs (Trustee for the Debentureholders of the Company),, Mr. H. E. Burden (Chairman of Directors of,the. Company"), and Mr. Vickerman (Engineer).—P.B. A.