Teviot Electric-Power Scheme.

Mt Benger Mail, 2 April 1924, Page 3

Teviot Electric-Power Scheme.

1 » OFFICIAL OPENING. 1 j An Auspicious Event, 3 Thursday of last week will be stamped \ in the minds pf Roxburgh district resi--3 dents and the large number of visitors , present on that day, for years to come, r as a very important occasion. The I whole district was en fete for the purpose of celebrating the official opening . of the Teviot power scheme. The day s W as a perfect one and residents of Box- ' burgh, Coal Creek, Ettrick, Dumbarton , and Millers Flat attended the opening 1 ceremony in Roxburgh in full force, ■ while there were many visitors from ; Alexandra, Cromwell, Clyde, Tapanui, | Lawrence, Milton, and Heriot. In addition there was a largo number of invited guests fr,om Invercargill, Dunedin and other part of Otago. The town for the occasion was profusely decorated with a fine display ,of bunting, and as the time for opening drew on the main street presented -a very animated appearance. From an early hour of Thursday morning there was a continuous stream of motor vehicles into the town, and the total number of cars in the township on that day must have constituted a record, and it is safe to say that the number of people in the Vjwnship on Thursday was easily the i.rgest gathering that has ever assembled in Roxburgh. There was no moans of getting an exact total of those present, but the general opinion was hat between two thousand to three rhousand persons were present. Proceedings commenced with a feucy dross procession, which left the starting point (the Roxburgh school) between 1 and 1.30. This was headed by the Roxburgh Municipal Brass Band in white uniforms, provided for the occasion, and wended its way right through the main street tp the bottom end of the town, and; thne buck again to the scene pf the opening. The procession was a very fine spectacular one and was easily the best the district has been responsible for providing. The bund wWffl in ru 1 strength. ■ in aeir white uniforms the muster of 34 players was a very pleasing one. Included in the procession were displays by Goal Greek, Millers Flat, Ettrick, Roxburgh East, and Roxburgh, and the efforts made by thpse responsible for getting up the displays were well rewarded by the splendid results and the marked appreciation with which their efforts were received. The local troop of Boy Scouts under Scoutmaster Fprdyce, along with the masters and children of the different schools, were also included in the procession. The displays in the procession were well worth seeing and the prettily decorated motor cars and the many quaint vehicles brought out came in for quite a lot of admiration. Boxburgh’s Irrigation Scheme 8.C.2, and the celebrated trotting horses “The Dingo” tand “Kingsdale” created plenty pf amusement fox the large numbers lining the streets for the procession. Prizes were awarded for the best district displays and pther events as follows: Best District Display.—Roxburgh East, represented by a couple on sledge which was labelled: ‘‘Roxburgh East Irrigation Scheme, los Per Acre, ’ and which contained a large barrel and a watering can. Best Get-up.—Maori display by Millers Flat. Best Gentleman’s Fancy Dress.—Mr V. Prison (prehistoric man). Best Ladies’ Fancy Dress.—Miss Strachan (12th century). Best Schoolboy’s Fancy Dress.—Master Bain. i Best Schoolgirl’s Fancy Dross.—Miss Roma Moriand. Best Decorated Vehicle. —Mr B. George (autumn). TURNING ON THE POWER. Afer the processionists had marched thrpugh the main street a return was made to the Commercial Hotel, on the balcony of which the speakers were assembled, and where the ceremony of turning on the power was perfprmed by the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Mines). _ . The chair was (Occupied by Mr J. H. Wiaigth, jun., (chairman of the Power Board), and the other speakers were the Hon. Mr Anderson, Cr J. B. Shaddock (chairman of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee of the Dunedin City Council), Mr A. W. Rodger (chairman pf the Southland Power Board), Mr Jasper Clark (chairman of the Otago Power Board),, and Mr Black (chairman of the Central Otago Power Board). Mr Waigth stated that ho had received a- number of letters and telegrams apologising for the absence of visitors iand old .residents, who wished to congratulate the district on the great event they were celebrating. Amongst those who were unable to be present were the Hon. J. G. Qoates (Minister of Public Works), Mr L. Birks (Chief Electrical Engineer), Mr J. Horn, M.P., Mr H. L. Tapley (Mayor of Dunedin), Mr Waigth, sen., and Mr Laloli. Proceeding, the speaker said this was ,a great day to the residents of the Roxburgh district. It was the day pn which their eyes and minds had been focussed for the last four years, and particularly for the last 12 months, when evidence of the work pf construction was to be seen all round. That day witnessed the consummation pf the idepl which had occupied the minds of many for such a long time. Was there anyone present whpsc heart did not thrill with pride at this great event I On behalf of the district he wished to extend a hearty welcome to the many visitors who had come to assist them. While they regretted the absence of Mr Cpates, there wps no one more entitled to the privilege of opening the works than Mr Anderson, in the absence of his colleague. HISTORY OF THE VENTURE. Mr Wiaigth went on to refer to the important part which mining had played in the development of the district, iand the part it had played in the ceremony they were then performing. If it had not been for the fact that four years ago they wore able to purchase for ia mere spug a mining plant, he was afraid they would not have had that ceremony. About four years ago three residents met in Roxburgh in a casual way, and when it was mentioned that the prpporty of the Ladysmith Mining Company was for sale the idea of securing it for power purposes for the borough and for irrigation fpr Roxburgh Bast was conceived. When the idea was mentioned to others it was thought to bo of sufficient importance to warrant the calling of a public meeting, which was held three nights later, when a committee was set up. That committee immediately set to work, and a Ppwer District was constituted in the following

July, and the 'board was elected about two months later. For 18 months or so the high prices of material and money hold them up, but as soon as there were evidences of these things coming back to normal they went ahead. The pt|o- , pyosal was endorsed by the ratepayers by an overwhelming majority, and they had never looked btek since then. This was the dawn of the era of electricity, and he would ask the people flo 00-opor-ate with the Power Board to the great- , , est possible extent. | . Mr Woigth concluded by expressing j 3 the indebtedness of the district to Mr 3 Aldridge, the engineer, who was respon3 ’ sib’-e for the scheme; to Mr Berryman, f the foreman; and to the men who had carried out the work. • The Hon. Mr Anderson then pressed a butflon, which set the machinery in motion for the genenation of the curn rent. This was the signal for hearty ’ applause. I ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER, i, The Minister went on to say that it ■' . gave him intense pleasure to assist in - this very important wprk. There were i some 36 power boards in New Zealand, i and he thought it spoke well for the - south that the idea of such boards prigi- , nated in Southland. The Chief Justice i had said that all the most efficient - brains in New Zealand came from the r south, and he (Mr Anderson) was sure i they would all agree with the state- - ment.—(Daughter.) Mr Rodger (chair- : man pf the Southland Power Board) ; was the originator of the idea of set- ! ting up power boards. In Southland ! they couM not get the Government to ! provide the power they required, but • the self-reliant people there decided to > provide it themselves, and the idea of : power bpards had since spread throughi out the country. The Teviot Power ! Board was providing the people with a very essential commodity. This was the r era ,of electricity which was enabling • the people tp secure benefits tat a rate ■ which would not be otherwise possible. r The people of the district were getting i a very cheap scheme. He understood ■ that the whple amount borrowed was ; about £35,000. It had been possible at i that price because of the enormous i amount of work done before the Public ■ Wprks Department drove an exceeding- • ly hard bargain with him for the rights : which they were now using. This ! scheme of water conservation for mining and power originated in 1888, • when Mr Vincent Pykc made an appliL cation for a dam site ,of 1500 acres situ--1 ated at the Dismal Swamp, at the foot i of Mount Teviot. The application was > strenuously opposed by other holders of ; water rights out of the Teviot Stream, ’ but on November 21, 1888, the license for the dam was granted to Mr Pykc on i the epndition that the existing rights i were not to be interfered with, and that i the bank of the dam be constructed to ' the satisfaction of the warden or whom ! he might appoint tp inspect it. The ■ ' work of construction was carried out by i : the Roxburgh Amalgamated Mining i and Sluicing Co. to which Mr Pyke i on February, 1890, assigned his title and interest,. On February 7, 1921, the ■ transfer pf the title from the Roxburgh 1 Amalgamated Mining and Sluicing Co. ■ to the Teviot Power Board was registered, and a. transfer from the last- ■ named to the Crown was registered on 1 August 16, 1021. i The area of the dam had remained the , same since the original grant, but in 1894 the wialls were raised sft. Mr ' Vincent Pyke saw the possibilities of the Dismal Swamp as a dam site. If it had not been for the public spirit of ■ such men as Mr Pyke, Sir Wm. Fraser, Mr J. G. Brown and Mr John Ewing the prosperity which Central Otago enjoyed to-day would npt be in existence— (Ap- ' plauso). The company that was using the dam last of all lost about £51,000 i in it, and the Toviot Power Board had got all that. By putting its power station at & high level it Was enabled ■to use the water twice —once for power and once for irrigation. VALUE OP IRRIGATION. The Public Works Department had not wasted iany water. It realised the value of irrigation, which had transformed all that portion pf the country ; where it was employed. Lake Onslow , at present could supply an enormous amount of water, and when it was nais- ' ed tp the height intended it would produce 24,'000 horse-power, and would ir- ' rigate the whole of the Roxburgh Valley. Now that they had the scheme he hoped they would take full advant- . age of it. If the dam were raised tp . the height required they would have a source of power that would suffice for , irrigation and mining. All the minj ing was not yet done in that valley. There were many places where mining . wpuld pay provided water was avail- • able and energy was put into the work. CANNING OF FRUIT. > The Minister then proceeded to urge the orchardists to take up the canning ■ of fruit. Other countries did it with i fruit that was less beautiful than that i grown in the Teviot district, where the • finest apricots in the world were t grown. Why should they not can their ! apricots and export them f They could ) not get all the pro due tip n they requirt ed unless scientific methods wore apI plied to their industries. He had been , told, as Minister of Mines, that there r was no oil in Taranaki, but during the last three mpnths ia scientist from Am--3 erica, whp was being paid by a syndi- : cate a large salary, had come to New i Zealand, and had told them that therta i was oil in Taranaki, and how it could I be got if they went the right way about , it. There was going to be a big thing • in fish canning in New Zealand, and a ; tremendpus thing in fruit canning if ! proper and up-to-date methods were om- : ployed. s The Minister congratulated the board ; on the energy put into the scheme. At ! the conclusion pf his speech Mr Ander- ) son was given three hearty cheers by the ’ assembly. CR, SHACKLOCK PREDICTS SUCCESS. [ Cr. Shackiock apologised for the ab--1 seuce of Mr Tapley, who was extremely busy at present. The speaker congratulated the district on the important event they were celebrating tbiat day. About , four years ago, he said, a lot was being said about the Hawea scheme, but when his opinion was sought he advis- [ ed those responsible tp go ahead with I the local scheme, as the other was too r big for Otago at the time. He con- } gratubted them on adapting that plan, j and was convinced that its success t would become more apparent as time went on. The time was long past when , electricity could be regarded as a luxury j The whole enterprise had been handed r to them at a very reasonable cpst, and j it seemed to him that there was no rear son why they should not make a success r of it, CONGRATULATORY SPEECHES. I Mr A. W. Rodger said the Southland * ■ Power Hoard wished to congratulate the • Teviot Hoard and the people of the dis- ? tried on the fruition of the scheme in - such quick time. He was glad to see • that they had taken advantage of the - legislation provided, and he was sure j they would never regret it. He was

certain they would thank the instigators of the scheme. It wias realised that they must have electric power in the southern part of New Zealand, if they were going to hold up their end of the stick. If they had power, life in the country districts would be mpre pleasant for the women folk. The speaker urged the people to help the Power Board as much as possible by making full use of the power. The Southland I scheme would give power over 2500 square miles of country. Spine 60,000 ior 70,000 poles would be erected, so ' they would have an idea of the magnitude of the wprk. They wanted to get as many immigrants as they could in Southland, and prevent the exodus from the south to the north. —(Applause). Mr Jaspar Clark thanked the pepplc for the invitation to bo present, and said that as the son of an early resident he was very pleased to see the development in the country districts. He was very pleased tp see that they were , making a success of the scheme. He congratulated them on the progressive steps they had taken, and hoped that before many years the two boards wpuld be connected by a live wire. Mr Black congratulated those present heartily on the successful completion of the works. The people in his district were very much interested in the wprks because they were deriving their power from Teviot. The necessary poles wore awaiting shipment from Australia, and the other work was going pn steadily. Ho hoped it would not be Ipng before, they had a similar corcmpsy in Alexandra. EVENING 081 DERATIONS. On Thursday evening some 100 odd guests of the Board were entertained at dinner in the Commercial Hotel, Mr J. H. Waigth, jr.. presiding, with the Hon. Qj J. Anderson on his right and Mr John Edie, M.P., pn his left. The toast list was ia lengthy puc, the following toasts being honoured. “The King.” “Minister of Mines,” proposed by the Chairman and responded to by the Hon. G. J. Anderson. “Parliament of New Zealand,” proposed by Mr Chas. Todd and responded to by Air Jphn Edie, M.P. “Teviot Electric Power Board,” proposed by Hon. G. J. Anderson and responded to by Mr T. P. Michelle. “Public Works Department,” proposed by Mr J. L Rooney and responded to by Mr J. R, Marks. “Engineer and* Staff,” proposed by Mr J. George and responded to by Mr A. P. Aldridge. “Local Bodies,” proposed by Mr R, T Kinaston and responded to by Mr W. B. Steel (Otago Expansion League)), Mr John Bennetts (Tuaipeka County), Mr Middleton (Vincent County), and Mr J. K. Simpson (Lawrence Borough). “The Contractors',” proposed by Mr A. P. Aldridge. “The Ladies” proposed by Mr W. Black iand responded to by Mr J. Palmer. “Host and Hostess,” proposed by Mr R, Oockburn and responded to by Mr C. SJopcr. TURNING ON OF BOROUGH STREET LIGHTS. The above ceremony was performed on Thursday evening, the Mayoress, Mrs I J. L. Rooney, switching on the power. During the evening the main street Hooked very pretty lit up with numerous lights of coloured electric bulbs. While waiting for the commencement of the fancy dress social large numbers paraded up and down the -flown listening to the many selections played by the Roxburgh Brass Band. The fancy dress social and dance was attended by a very large number of residents, and also a large number of visitors. The hall was crowded out and for most of the evening the fl ( oor space was more than taxed to its utmost. A large number present were in fancy dress, and this combined with the prettily decorated hall, created a very pleasing ! spectacle. ■ The hall for the ,occasion was decortcd with coloured bunting, coloured electric lights and greenery. Notwithstanding the overcrowding everyone had a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment, which came to a fitting conclusion somewhere about 2.30 a.m, on Friday morning. FRIDAY’S CELEBRATIONS. The district continued the celebrations on Friday with a mouster picnic at ‘Teviot Station, the beautiful grounds around the homestead being very kindly granted for the occasion. The attendance was a very large one and included large numbers of residents from all parts of the district as well as numerous visitors. The picnic was held in a large paddock sheltered with fine belts ,of trees, and all present* were able to thoroughly enjoy the day with games, races, football, walks, etc. Quite a large number took advantage of tho opportunity -to explore the large plantation at the station and the walk through the trees was well worth tho trouble. The homestead and the woolshed were practically at the disposal of the visitors. The kiddies were especially well looked after at the picnic and they certainly had a. very happy time, innumerable races being provided for them during the day, each child receiving a prize and also a bag ,of sweets. Altogether the picnic was voted a. huge success, and tho committee responsible for the supplying of hot water, etc., deserve the thanks of ( ono and all for the arduous clay they put in. The Roxburgh Brass Band was in attendance, and their numerous contributions during the day added greatly to tho pleasure ,of all present. The lorryowners and car owners during the day had ia very busy time transporting tho residents to and fr,om the picnic ground and their efforts in this direction deserve the thanks ( of the whole district. A dance was held in the hall after the picnic, and although the attendance was on the small side, compared with the previous evening, those present were able to have a more enjoyable evening's dancing as there was plenty of room on this occasion. Tho epmmittcc provided those present with soft drinks and eatables,, their efforts in this direction earining the appreciation of all present. A very enjoyable dance 1 was the verdict of those who were | present on this occasion. |