NOTES FROM MANGAHAO.

Shannon News, 15 June 1923, Page 2

NOTES FROM MANGAHAO.

PROGRESS Of work,

The top-camp at Mangahao is now a hive oi industry, the men working night and day, the works being brilliantly lighted at night- About lot) men are now engaged there. Mr McDonald, late tunnel foreman a,t Arape'ti', has resigned lhom the Public Works Department.

Arrangements have been made for the new! district nur.se to occupy the cottage lately occupied by the Y.M.C.A. secretary. Her arrival is anxiously awaited.

The attendance at the school at Arapeti is keeping up well. The by-pass, at the top camip is now completed. This work has given a; lot of trouble, having taken over twelve months ta. complete, owing to the river continually' rising and impeding the work. It is practically all concreted and is now safe from any further trouble by the river. Work is now proceeding with clearing the bottom of No. 1 tunnel and only about five chains of concreting remains to be done. At the Arapeti end a four-foot high wall has been erected to protect flooding from the creek nearby. A start has been made with concret-

ing the east wall of the top dam;. Nothing can be done to the bottom

until the river is diverted through the by-pass. This work will be undertaken when the river is at normal. The concreting of the western wall of the Arapeti dam, is fast approach-

ing completion . At present men are engaged digging the bottom foundation u'nder the flume. The creek runs over flumihg -and the mien work underneath. A good rock bottom has been found. Excavating is still in progress on the eastern side and a fair amount of earth yet remains to be cleared away. No. 2 tunnel has been cleared and

it is now possible to get right through to the Surge Chamber. Gangs are now busy trimming the sides and clearing the bottom preparatory to finishing. the concreting. McGa.vins party lo'st a, lot of time in their section of No. 2 tunnel, owing to having to put in sidings to allow the trucks to pass each oilier.

Owing to the long spell of w’et weather a lot. of time has been lost lately by the men employed at Arapeti and Mangahao. The recent has caused the heavy traffic to cut up the road badly between the bottom camp and Arapeti. and the teams and roadmen are hard put to keeping it in order. Mr, Doig, the Y.M.C.A. secretary at, Arapeti, will he; pleased to receive books and magazines to provide reading for the men in the camps during the long winter evenings. A very successful cQncert was given at Mangahao Camp on the evening oi May 30, Mr Doig, of the Y.M.C.A., being the organiser. Mr Johnston, Engineer in Charge, gave every assistance re preparation of the building, motor lorrie's to convey the party, and other arrangements. The performers, known as Mr Hinton’s concert party, left Arapeti Camp in the evening and travelled by motor lorry to tfle weird and beautiful Mangahao Valley to give the first entertainment ever held at this scene of energy. They found some hundred people anxiously awaiting the aldvent of 'song and mirth. The party having been received by Mr Johnston (who occupied the chair for the evening). the programing was proceeded with, every number being recalled. Songs were rendered by Messrs Martin, Newitt, Jackson. Johnson. Hinton and Pullinger, a; recitation by Messrs Doig and Ohlsen being also much appreciated.

Mr Hinton also delivered a lecture on Suggestion, and. Light and Sound Transmission, the theories of which he set out to prove ; by a vivid demonstration in hypnotism and telepathy. A number.of young men were affected in the most mysterious way by his ministrations. Automatic, writing was •produced by the touch of the operator’s hand. Mr Kelly ably supplied all music. In conclusion Mr Johnston thanked Mr Doi g iahd the whole party on behalf of the camp. Mr Hinton suitably replied. The singing of the National Anthem and .hearty cheers from all parties concluded a very happy evening.