RANGIWAHIA LIGHTED

Feilding Star, Volume 5, Issue 1112, 27 May 1927, Page 5

RANGIWAHIA LIGHTED

ELECTRICITY SWITCHED ON BRILLIANT FUNCTION LAST NIGHT Thanks to the pn>li,ts which it msi-koS out of the thickly populated area of Feilding and the closer set--t laments and no thanks whether to tiie miserable, selfish ratepayers and business people and public men of Palmerston North. —thei settlers of Pangiwa.hin have now been included in-the district'served with electricity by the jVJanawntu Oroua Electric Power Board. Rangiwahia is 36 milcn from Feilding, and beyond Kimbo-lton the country is very sparse ] v settled, but the Power Board has laid its wires over this area so that the back-country settlers may have and enjoy the same bright blessings which Feildin.g towns-people receive. The Power Board will not make any profit out of these -long lines so lightly tapped, but because they have Feilding loyalty supporting them, they can offer the Service to the .settlers, away up near the mountains. ’ It, is /only fair that the -settlors should be informed of this position, and be. courteously reminded that thev can reciprocate by supporting ]'Vildin.g. :? 'bUsdness houses. For the ceremony last night, the commodious hall was packed to the do'ors Not since the peace, celebrations;.so the residents said, had they such a crowd in Rangiwahia. The' * People .gnthere early, and had to await the arrival of u concert party from Feildinb. They were in. hnc humour, however, and the interval

was a, joyous one. The street was as brilliantly lighted as- Manchester Sqn.re. many extra lights having been provided for the occasion by the Power Board. Afr E. AY.. Pemberton, who presided -was very happy in the office. Tie spoke witli a. quiet reserve which, was a matter tor congratulation. After referring to the services of the late Mr Guthrie, ‘ Air Pemberton said it was -16 years since the pioneers began, to settle in Bangiwahia. There were a few settlors there in. 1886, a, small farm association taking up land .in this, the so called Wanganui Block, under the. .Bnllnnee Administration . Air McKinnon, present at this gathering, was the first settler then came Messrs Bose, McDonald. Wood, his brother, and others. In those timei* it- took'two days to come from Ivimboltojv,- and now it- could he done in an hour. Members of the fair rsey had come in, to share their "joys and sorrows, and those who had stuokmfc had not regretted it. Twenty years ago they had hoard whispers of the electric light coining, but they never thought they would get it. Three years they had hopes and now they had the light. (Applause) Ah Pemberton thanked th e Power Board and the staff for their work. A-l'r J, Xi . Eliott, AT.P.j congratulated the farmers of Bangiwahia on linking up with, the electrical system. He was sure they would appreciate th.ci uses of electricity. Lie thanked •the Power Board fort showing this interest in. the back portion of his olec'tornte. Air J. A. (Chairman of the Power Board) pointed out that the settlers; 111. tßangiwahia, would pay the same rate for electricity as the people living-, near thf>. sub-station, and lie assured them, they would, never have to pa.y a gene.ra] levy, as the Board wqs; determined not to strike a. rate. The Board was out to help the farmers. Air. Nash complimented the engineers. and the stall of the Board for their loyal help. The Chairrn,an then invited Air AlcKinnon, the..oldest settler, to switch on. the light.

Mr AleKlnnon turned up tlie switch and light, blazed forth, front dozens of plain and coloured globes, the rndiotor then, hega.it to radiate heat, and the assent hi ago cheered and cheered, again. dr McKinnon: ’Well, 1 am very glad I got the light going (Loud laughter and cheers) I hope you will enjoy this light. (Move cheers). Mr L T. McLean had great pleasure .taking part in this gathering, and was glad they had. the light in Rnngiwahia,. Ho advised the people to go In. for ranges, arid so get, the wires extended and receive full benefits front, having the electricity. Mr J. S. Tin gey also congratulated the settlors on. this sign of progress. Mr "Waters also spoke, referring to tlie progress made by the Hoard. A concert programme provided by Misses N. (Eliott and Hutchinson, Messrs Cl. Kingston., Shelton and Scott, was enjoyed. Supper and a danee concluded, a great night for Rangiwaliia.