No electricity in Greymouth until 1926

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DescriptionNo electricity in Greymouth until 1926.Date of Photo1926Map^[1]ContributorTony Kokshoorn

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Location (city or town)GreymouthEventNo electricity in Greymouth until 1926

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Date Created8th September 2021CommentsCedric Trounson
need a big party in 2026 to celebrate 100 years. even Otira Tunnel had electricity assist Locomotives when it opened. Aug 1923

John Rosanowski
Seems possible that, in those early days, the gas company had the advantage of being fully reticulated, as opposed to the cost of setting up an electrical system. However, when Walter Prince - Reefton's electrical pioneer - in the 1880s unsuccessfully approached the Greymouth council with a proposal to build a coal-fired steam-driven electricity supply system, it was mooted that the refusal was the result of the members of the council being major shareholders in the gas company.

Warner Nut Curry
John Rosanowski Interesting thanks John no surprise

John Rosanowski
Worth noting that, in addition to the caption, gas stoves were being installed in Greymouth homes for cooking from as far back as 1905.

Stephen Lucas
I remember we had vents in the ceiling for gas lights in our Sturge St house the were very ornate in the Victorian style

Anna Jensen
I do believe the grid may have started in Dobson fueled by coal from the Dobson coal mine

John Rosanowski
Anna Jensen No it was fed with Strongman coal which was also used by the Akld gas coy and several others.

Arthur Dehn
How did they charge up their computer batteries,, with no electricity ha ha , My Dad bought a generator from Renton in Hoki and we had lites in Whataroa in1939 , we and Arnold's garage only ones that had it

Bill Hanna
& the 'safes' for butter, Meat etc built into the wall

Bill Hanna
Wet Muslim cloth the best fridge & water bags in front of the car in Ausie out back - Cool water in 50 deg.

Pam Englefield-Absolum
What about the bucket of cold water in which the milk was kept especially in the summer.

Tony Ring
Wow !!!!! Did not realise that. Were there many accidental fires in the home ?

Martin James
Tony Ring no because people weren't Stupid, and people were used to gas, kerosene and candles

Max Johnson
That’s we’re we get our intelligence from, lucky they left us lots ha. Some of us just forget sometimes.

Mary Costello
Then The Population Plateaued...
Everyone Looks Good When The Lights Are Out

Leigh Hart
·

Reefton has it years earlier? strange

Chris Hanright
Leigh Hart they are still playing on it too

Bob Laing
Ross didn’t get electric power until the early 1950s. I remember candles, coppers for clothes washing and kerosene lamps.

Bill Hanna
Yep still remember mum on sat. morning "Billy get the copper going" & then on the old ringer while mums feeding the sheets frew , Rinse then frew again Tighten it down & frew again , No wonder i was in the front row at rugby later on in the morning . Good days

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No electricity in Greymouth until 1926

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