LIGHT AT SALISBURY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17756, 17 September 1927, Page 21

LIGHT AT SALISBURY.

SWITCH ING-ON CKREAIONY

AN ENJOYABLE GATHERING,

An interesting and tnJ< J ‘ switching-on ceremony ol the electi ic •light was held m the Salisbury School onAYcdnesday evening. Hiere was a large gathering, and tIV: r ° oll prettily decorated with colouu Streamers, the effect, with the multicoloured electric bulbs, being ln<l ’; pleasing. The light was turned on b> Mrs T. McAuliiie, Mr J upert 1 a - the oldest resident ot the <KL < L being unavoidably prevented Loin attending. . , Mr W. J. Black presided, and among those present were Mr a. Kennedy (chairman ot the 1 ovuu Board), Mr C. E. Kerr (Level« repi etentative on tho Board), Mi (manager), Mr G. M- .Mormon (engineer), and Mr Bush (wiring). The chairman, in a bright ana broezv manner extended a beam welcome (o the Power Board representatives, and expressed pleasure at the large attendance to honour the > rward move the district was taking, the celebration that night could be looked upon ns a red letter day lot Salisbury. Mr Black, in reminiscent vein, recorded what the pioneers bad done for the country and what thc,\ liad bad to put up with. He recalled the days of the tallow candle and tdiislt lump, and rontrastod with the flood of light obtained by pressing a button. The advent, of electricity was a boon to any district, and once one bad the power lie would never dream of going back to the old order of things. The kerosene lamps were then extinguished to the singing of “Auhl Lang Syne.” ' . r Amidst cheers the switching-on ol the light, was performed by Airs T. AlcAulifie, who. with her husband, has resided at Salisbury for 44 years. Air AlcAulilVe expressed his pleasure ,at tbo progressive stop the district was taking, and thanked the Power Board for the good work they had done. He spoke of his own personal appreciation as lie was now able to switch on the light at his eow-byro in the earlv hours of the morning.

Air C. E. Kerr complimented the district on its forward movement, and .said the reticulation of Levels County bad been so satisfactory that nearly all the authorised loan money had been expended. The policy the Board was working on was a sound one. No line was erected unless it was financially guaranteed. The Power Board w.-~ not a money-making roncern and nn.v '■•ofit it made would be given back to the consumers, in reduced charges. Criticism bad been levelled at the Board in the past, hut he contended Hat good had come out of such criticism, and instead of having an unsatisfactory single tran.sinis.sion line they now had a most efficient double line. ■■ the completion of the AYaitaki scheme they would bo assured of an abundant supply of power. Air ,T. Kennedy said be was pleased to be present at such a gathering and to hear the complimentary remarks the chairman had made abont the Power Board. Bv the action of the residents of Salisbury it was possible to continue the line through Otipua and on as far ns Craigmore, a distance of 22 miles. He recounted .. the early history of the Power dßoard.'.i -and referred to the very satisfactory and expeditious manner in which the lines had been erected. So far as criticism of the Board was concerned,, lie was satisfied that good had come out of it. and they were now able to give a service of which they were justly proud. In conclusion Air Kennedy added a word of praise for the Board’s staff, who, he was sure, were doing good work. , Mr C. Dash (manager) congratulated the people of Salisbury on having nower in their midst. He thanked Air Kennedy for what he had said concerning the staff, whose aim would alwnys he to give the best possible .service to the consumers.

Mr' G. A\ . Alorrison (engineer) said that by the way they had linked up, the residents of Salisbury were to be congratulated on giving the long length of transmission to Craigmore a good start. He made reference to some of the difficulties the Board had had to face with the unsatisfactory single transmission line, and said .the service now was most satisfactory. The Sahsbnry-Craigmore extension . was approximately 22 miles. The capital cost' was £6IBB, and the amount guaranteed was £B4B 10s from 48 settlers, the guarantees ranging from £4 10s to £ll3. In speaking of the business of the Power Board and the length of lines so far erected Air Alorrison gave some interesting figures. In Geraldine County 5195 poles were erected, while in levels 3774, and in Waimate 3586 had been put in. The route miles of lines in the respective counties _wcre ; Geraldine County 232, Levels H 5, Waimate 163, and a large portion of Waimate had yet to be completed. The length of wire so far strung was 1825 miles, iron work 92 tons, insulators 79,200, all classes: transformers, all classes, 195. If the . poles were laid end to end Mi "'ouid be equal to a dnstanee of 78 miles. and would stretch 'considerably further than from the Rangitata ' bridge to the AYaitaki bridge, at- Gfenavy. On two different ••ontes, the, distance from tho .northern extremity to the-southern, the lines are continuous for 97 miles. The chairman said that they were fortunate in having their house wirino"Well done by Air Rush. ~ Air Rush thanked the chairman and -'oople of the district for the way they bad treated him. ‘Mr G. Pam-thanked the ladies for the'way they bad decorated the school," and for the splendid manner in. which they bad catered for ’this and 'similar functions. ■ On tho motion of Air Kennedy a very heartv vote of thanks was passed to the chairman. The switching-on ceremony was followed by an enjoyable dance.