THE MANGAHAO SCHEME.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 30 May 1919, Page 7

THE MANGAHAO SCHEME.

WORK PROGRESSING. The quiet valley of Arapeti, which' nestles down among the bush-cushioned slopes of the hills to th© east of the town of Shannon, has had its tranquility disturbed by the march of civilisation on more than one occasion. It is some year's since th© sound of the bushman’s axe first broke its serene quietness, and later on it became a scene of bustling activity when a timber mill wag' established there, and rails were laid over the hills to carry the logs to the outerworld. When the timber supply was exhausted the valley was again left to return 'to its natural solitude, guarded only by the snowclad heights of the Tararuas which tower above it, and visited occasionally by a passing shepherd in search of stray members of his flock.

The valley is again beginning to show signs of activity within its limits. Twenty or so trim little tents, the abodes of some 40 pioneers of the Man-gaha-o Electric Supply Scheme, are dotted here and there along the little stream which divides tho'broad bosom of the ravine. Tiiese are the-forerunners of more temporary houses, which will bo the homes of the men who arc to harness up for the uses of civilisation the tremendous force of electricity which it is possible to galvanise with life, with the aid of the mountain streams in the vicinity.

just now the centre of _ activity is along the narrow road which winds np through the hills to the valley. This has to be widened and extended before the machinery for starting the real work of constructing the necessary tunnels, dams,' etc., can he transported to the site. There are about four and ahalf miles of reading to be done, and contracts have been let for the construction of two miles of it. Eight gangs are at work, and already considerable progress has been made. Probably more men will be engaged to complete the remaining two and a-half miles, and so the work will be carried on as expeditiously as possible. In the meantime the necessary surveys, etc., in connection with the preliminary operations are being carried out by Mr. Anderson, the Public Works engineer, and his staff. A Times reporter who was wer the ground recently noticed that flags had been laid out to mark a- bridle track over the hills as: a short v> cut to the main road, and there is evidence that a considerable amount of work of a less obvious nature is also being carried out.