MANGAHAO POWER HERE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12022, 27 December 1924, Page 5

MANGAHAO POWER HERE

HUTT AND EASTBOURNE IMPROVED LIGHT APPRECIATED IN SUBURBS. SPLENDID WORK DONE. Three-quarters of an hour before the bewitching hour of midnight on Christmas Eve the electric light from Mangahao power station dispersed the darkness in the Hutt Valley and at Eastbourne for the first time, and the Public Works Department just succeeded in keeping its word that everything possible would be done to put the current through by that time. In the past Tt is only on very dear nights that the dim lights of the valley have been observable in the city, but in the near future when the whole scheme of electric lighting from Wellington to Petone, Lower Hutt, and Upper Hutt has been completed, the view . from the pills on a dark, but clear night, should be one worth seeing. It marks another .distinct advance in the development of the Hutt Valley, and the advent of electricity for power as well as for lighting purposes should prove a valuable magnet in attracting business and residential people there. A PRETTY HARBOUR.

On overseas boats arriving in the harbour during the night the travellers have always been favourably impressed with the picturesque sight of Wellington by night, but with the Hutt road, Petone and Lower Hutt, and the drive down to Eastbourne and Muritai also illuminated the sight will "be a prettier one than ever. The city with its background of hills lias always had its own charms in this respect. WELCOMED AT PETONE. The current passed through from Khsndallah to Petone about half-past four. The line is not quite completed, final adjustments having yet to be done.

At the Hutt Valley end Mr E. Bickerstaff (engineer in onarge), Mr G. Witty (line foreman), and Mr E. Delaney (pole foreman), and F. Free (transformer fitter), with the men under them toiled unceasingly to have everything in readiness, hut it was not till after sunset that the last street lamp in Petone was completed. The last moment was an anxious one for those in charge, but when the current was switched 1 on the only faults were in the two Petone areas, where a slight balancing of the transformeins put matters right. On Christmas Day Mr Bickerstoff and the others went over the whole line, carefully examining the various transformer stations to see that all was in order, and to put the final touches on the Upper Hutt circuit, which is controlled from Silverstream. The power in this area, and also on the line running through the .Taita Gorge, was just in time for the Christmas trees on Ohristm-as night. Lower Hutt district is not quite completed, hut it was expected' that Trentham would receive its light last evening. The new districts of Johnsouville, Porirua, and Fahnutanui. recently included in -the Power Board’s area, will not be ready for some months. IN THE HOUSES. Householders in Hutt Valley, Day’s Bay, and Eastlbourne will have the light in their houses in about three weeks to a month’s time. Residents of Day’s Bay and' Eastbourne are highly delighted with their new street lights, Eastbourne people particularly so. At Day’s Bay more lights along the waterfront between the wharf and the end of Ferry road seem to be necessary; but otherwise the lights are well placed. The ninety-two street lights at EastBourne do their work in a very satisfactory way, the lighting lay-out being a sound one. UPPER HUTT. Upper Hutt residents, needless to say, are particularly pleased at the up-to-date lighting system in its main and side streets, and even in streets which have yet to grow into the dignity of residential thoroughfares. The now lighting service has been extended beyond the township proper to the Taita Gorge, whogo a few mere lamps would make an improvement towards the Lower Hutt boundary. The main street,* with.its hanging centre street lights, which principle has been followed throughout in the more important lengths of main thoroughfares in the valley, is very well lighted, and tho placing of fairly high-powered globes in side streets, often at busy corners, has made a very considerable improvement on the system hitherto prevailing. In some way® it seems to have brought them nearer the city, and the advent of the new railway will add to that impression. These three days have been in all truth red letter days for the Hutt Valley, an instalment of better things to come.