MARLBOROUGH FEELS EFFECES OF THE PROLONGED DROUGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19036, 3 April 1930, Page 7

MARLBOROUGH FEELS EFFECES OF THE PROLONGED DROUGHT.

People Of Blenheim Go To Bed As Electric Light Is Cut Off

Per Press Association.

Though not apparently mouth, the town of Blenhei ally is feeling the effects of t On the provincial hydro-electric scheme, a system of rationing electricity has been adopted. The only street lights in use are those in the centre of the town. Power is shut off every night at 10.30 until six o’clock in the morning, and again from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The result is that everybody goes to bed early, and, thqugh electricity is available for heating and cooking, the switching off from ten to four makes power plants practically useless, so there has been a great furbishing up of old gas engines. The Power Board's Diesel stand-

BLENHEIM, April 3. / as badly off as New Plyim, and Marlborough generhe long drought. by plant, which would have obviated the present difficulty, is now being landed from England, and the erection is being pushed on with immediately. The Power Board is suggesting that the Government should develop power at Lake Rotoroa to .supply the needs of Marlborough, Nelson and the West Coast, but there is a strong public feeling that the Government should be urged to develop the source of Supply at the Clarence, which would serve as a feeder for Canterbury and supply the whole of the wants of Canterbury, Marlborough and the East Coast practically for ever.