ELECTRICITY AT MOKOIA

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1932, Page 3

ELECTRICITY AT MOKOIA

POWER OFFICIALLY SWITCHED ON,

HALL’S TWENTY-FIRST BIRTHDAY,

Another step in tlie progress of the electrification of South Taranaki was taken on Wednesday night when tlie supply was officially switched on at Mokoia. Old residents and members of the South Taranaki Power Board attended the function, which was also held to celebrate the 21st anniversary of tlie opening of the hall. Special lighting displays In the halt and in the township itself wpre a feature of the event. From the outskirts of Hawera the illuminations were clearly visible. Mr. S. J. Tidswell, chairman of the hall committee, welcomed the visitors at a social and dance in the hall. lie apologised for the absence of several residents, including Miss Lysaght, tlie oldest resident of the district. Mr. Tidswell briefly outlined the history of the hall. The hall was first mooted in April, 1911, said Mr. Tidswell, when a committee wus set up to go into the purchase of land. Just over £2OO was subscribed by residents. Mr. J. Whiting was appointed chairman of the first hall committee and Mr. T. E, Bickford secretary. Messrs. J. Parfitt senr., J. Whiting and J. Tidswell were appointed trustees, ana had never been replaced. The following had acted as guarantors: Messrs. H. Pratt, J. Parfitt senr., C. J. Hawken, J. Tidswell, C. Taylor, .T. E. Bickford, J. Whiting, W. Duins, J. Hunt and It. S. Haybittie. Tho building was then proceeded with. Mr. C. Taylor was the only carpenter employed and the res® was done by volunteer labour. Mr. J. Tidswell gave 332 hours of labour. The hall was opened in August with a ball. The masters of ceremonies were Messrs. O. Crawford and J. Tidswell. The musician was Mr. W. E. Wills.

Before the two splendid churches were built in Mokoia any denomination was able to secure the use of the hall on Sundays free of charge. The first bazaar was held in 1912, £6l 5s 7d being raised. The function was opened by Mr. W. A. Gillies, Mayor of Hawera. A second bazaar was held in June, 1914, the net profit being £56 17s 9d. Originally over £4OO, the bank overdraft was reduced to £l4l 3s 3d by March 31, 1915. The Great War unsettled the district, and owing to so many of the young men of Mokoia being at the front few functions of any kind were held at the han, the finances being maintained by subscription lists. On May 24, 1920, regular functions were again initiated at the hall, and had been continued to date. The committee was indebted to the Hawera Presbyterian Church for a donation towards the cost of lining the haH, and the Mokoia ladies’ committee for continued assistance, also the Settlers’ Association, which had made very generous donations towards the hall funds.

There had been many outstanding identities who had acted on the committee of the hall during the 21 years, and to them was owed, a debt of gratitude, for their capable management. In its time the hall had served as a place of worship, for public meetings and functions of all kinds, and its usefulness IA the social life of the district could not be underestimated.

Until May, 1925, the only means of illumination was by kerosene lamps, but as the result of a donation by the Mokoia Ladies’ Committee Wizard lights were installed, now to be replaced by electricity.

. Mr. O. Crawford congratulated successive hall committees on the way the hall had been maintai..ed, culminating in the installation of electric light. He had been master of ceremonies at many functions, but he would always remember the opening ball in Mokoia. Before the hall was built dances used to be held in a loft, situated, he believed, on the Lysaght estate. Mr. J. B. Murdoch, chairman of the South Taranaki Power Boardr, congratulated settlers on having such a fine hall free of debt. He also wished to congratulate Mokoia on being the first district in the southern area to have electricity. They had waited a long time for it. Possibly no district in New Zealand had such facilities as South Taranaki. .There were the tar-sealed roads and there was electricity which could be used for anything. There was a coal strike at present, but there was no danger in that with electricity. The official switching on of the light was then performed by Mr. J. Tidswell. Other electrical appliances were switched on as follow: Mrs. Hunt, senr., range; Mr. C. J. Hawken, motor; Mrs. J. Tidswell, heater; Shirley Wills, iron; Enid Marsh, kettle.

On the stage there were also Messrs. E. A. Washer, J. W. Snowdon and W. Rothery, members of the power board. The following was the concert programme. Margaret, Louis and Olga Fox and Miss Rodgers, instrumental quartette; Mr. H. Townsley, song; Louts Fox, violin solo; Miss Joan Tonks, recitation; Pat and Joe Brennan, novelty item; Margaret Fox, song with violin obbligato by Louis Fox; Nir. H. N. Lester, ’cello solo; Mr. H. Townsley, song; Margaret Fox, violin solo; Pat Brennan, song; Miss J. Johnson, song. Miss Rodgers and Mrs. Brennan played accompaniments. Music for dancing was played by Mr. Ray Wills, a son of Mr. W. E. Wills, who played the music at the first function held in the hall. Messrs. E. Dunn and R. Church were the masters of ceremonies and supper was provided by the ladies.