WATER-POWER FINANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 86, 11 April 1922, Page 4

WATER-POWER FINANCE.

From Christchurch come two important items of water-power news. One is the statement by Sir R. Heaton Rhodes that when Mr. Roderick .McKenzie was Minister of Public Works he estimated the cost of the Lake Coleridge scheme at £233,000. whereas already £f)00,000 has been spent, and commit: inents have been made for another £580,000. This agrees with general experience in the cost of hydro-electric works. We gave recently some startling figures showing differences between estimates and final costs in Canada. Wβ wonder whether the department, in training its estimates of the cost of Arapuni, has allowed for this tendency. Lake Coleridge, it is true, has been a successful undertaking. For the first four years it showed a loss, after interest had been reckoned at 4 per cent, and depreciation at 2 per cent. In 1020 it showed a credit balance of £3600, and in 1921 one of £3400. In the year just closed, the profit, according to Sir K. Heaton Rhodes' statement, was £34,000, which will the deficits on the earlier years. In spite of this satisfactory position the Government is Taising the rates for current in the Canterbury district, which seems to mean that it is adhering to its plan of treating all the State's hydro-electric businesses as one concern. Capital costs vary greatly in hydro-electric enterprises, so that if these were treated as separate concerns, one district might have current at a considerably lower rate than another. The Government prefers to charge a flat rate. In the ultimate financial result there is no difference between the two methods, because even if charges are different and .accounts are kept separate, profits ga to the State and losses have to he borne by it, but the policy of treating all the service as one business with a uniform set of charges is the more business-like. The Government, however, must be careful not to lpg.n too much on the idea that if a ceTtain service does not pay the loss can bn spread over customers throughout the Dominion, fpr if charges are raised too much business «rril fall off.

Thirty-five bags of United States mail and 32 bags of Australian mail will arrive by the Main Trunk express tomorrow morning from the steamer Tahiti. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association, incorporated, the president, Mr. Albert Spencer, referred to the great loss the city had sustained through the death of Mr. H. D. Heather. A vote of sympathy with his relatives was passed, all the members standing as a mark of respect. During last month 10,110.000 gallons of water were pumped in connection with the supply for the. Mount Albert district. The springs are now yielding approximately 15.000 gallons per bout. Any additional rains now will put thb borough in a safe position until next summer. The city supply to the borough was dispensed with on March 30. Concerning honey crop prospects, the Director of the Horticulture Division, Department of Agriculture, has received the following report for the Wellington district:—"The bulk of the season's honey crop has now been gathered, and apiaries are in course of preparation for winter. Contrary to earlier expectations, the quantity is disappointing, due to the abno-mal climatic conditions. Quality also has suffered to some extent on account of the same cause, which has, through a moisture-charged atmosphere, made the ripening process difficult, resulthijf in samples being thin and watery. Beekeepers would do well to extract uo unsealed honey this season. Prices have slightly declined for bulk lines on the open market. Comb honey is firm, and beeswax is quoted at l'/6 Ib." There was a surprising lack of demand for a block of land which should have been balloted for at the Hawke's Bay Land Board meeting, says the Jl.B. "Tribune." Probably this indicates the present aspect of the value of land to the new settler. The block was that known as Te Reinga, about 22 miles from Wairoa, and comprising some 1599 acres. It is served by a fair dray road, and will later be hounded by the East Coast' railway. There was only one application from returned soldiers, for, whom tUe block is set apart, this .being l from Ashley K. Cooper, who took section 3, containing 3!)9 acres 2 roods. Under normal conditions a very heavy ballot would have been anticipated. At the official turning on of the electric current at Leeston, Springston, and South Springston (Canterbury), Sir RHeaton Rhodes said he hoped that before long the railways would be electrified and then the benefits of electricity would be fully realised. It was interesting to look back and see what the then Minister of Public Works, Mr. Roderick McKenzie, had estimated as the cost of the Lake Coleridge scheme. Hie estimate had been £233,000. -Already £500,000 had been spent, and commitments made up another £580,000. But the scheme had been a success. This year profits had been shown to the extent of £34,000, which would pay off the deficit on the workings of the previous years. They were now going on to show profits. Unfortunately Lake Coleridge at the present time could not supply all the power that was wanteA but the fifth unit was now being tested and the tests had been very satisfactory. It was hoped that within a fortnight it would be giving extra power. Anglers at the Waitaki River mouth this season have secured an unusual number of heavy trout, while some individual tallies of the season have been encouraging numerically. The nine heaviest fish landed averaged 101b, including two twenty-pounders, a nineteenpounder, and a seventeen-pounder, while fourteen and fifteen-pounders were not so rare as they have been for the past year or two. A few days ago the salmon were running in shoals, but pressed on up the river, refusing all baits. The total number of salmon landed in the Waitaki this season cannot much exceed fifty, but they were in the best condition vet observed. The heaviest salmon landed wae 27Mb, but larger fish have been hooked and lost. A regular frequenter of the Waitaki mouth hooked one which was estimated by several anglers who saw it clearly to be fully 401b in weight. Although equipped with strong tackle, the angler had no control over the fish, and handed his rod to a more agile sportsman with a tally of thirty salmon for one season to hi.= credit. A sprint down the bank ended with the breaking of the line after the last yard had been run ont. The sight of salmon freely "porpoising"' but refusing all baits cast, over them is one that tests the angler's patience, but the successful establishment of the quinnat in the Waitaki has been proved. At a meeting of the Auckland District Council of the Workers' Educational Association lreld last evening the newlyappointed tutor and organiser, Mr. L. A:- Mander, said he hoped to make the Workers' Educational Association better known in order to extend and popularise its activities, and to that end he suggested that one or two public lectures should b<? given. It wae also his intention to give addressee at various business houses in the city during the luncheon hour. He was strongly in favour of bringing the members of the ■association together socially, suggesting that monthly social meetings might be held, by which n common interest might lie awakened. He also hoped to organise summer schools, which he thought did more for the movement than anything else. After discussing organisation details Mr. Marnier spoke of the necessity of having rooms in the city which would become known a/s the headquarters of the association in Auckland. The contract for the switch gear at the Mnngahao hydro-electric power station has .been let to the Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Company, of Manchester. The price is £30,764, as compared -with the estimate of £35.000. Discussing the contract, the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. C Coates) said the lowest tender was £24.660, and came from America, but the British tender was considered to be the more satisfactory proposition. Tile successful firm probably would be known better by its. former title of British Westinghousc Company. The highest, tender was £66,247. Another M'angahao contract let recently is that for the supply of telephone insulators. Messrs, P. R. Baillie and Co., of Wellington, are the successful tenderers, and the price i* £603 3/6. The Mayor (Mr. A. F. Bennett) reported to the Mount Albert Borousb Council last evening that he was hopeful of a reduction being made in insurance rates as a result of the recent insta-lla- ! tion of an electrical fire alarm eystem in ( the district. The matter had been •brought under the notice of the insurance authorities, the reply being that the representations had been made to headquarters in Wellington. A number of cases for unpaid rates were called at the suit of the Tamaki West Koad Board to-day. It was announced, however, that since issuing the summonses a,ll the amounts 'had been, paid- The delay simply meant that costs were added to the rates.

Proposals for the relief of unemployment in Wellington are being considered by the City Council. The Mayor (Mr. E. A. Wright, ,M.P.) stated on Saturday that he was continually being approached by men in search of employment, and he estimated that about 500 or 600 men were at present searching for work in Wellington. He had noticed that some of these had come to town from the country districts. The Council would find it difficult enough to provide jobs for the unemployed in the •city, apart from those who are coming from the country, and he had found it necessary to inform these men that they should in the first place seek assistance from their own municipalities. It was only fair to those in the city. Mr. Wright expressed the opinion that the re.lief works to be embarked on by the City Council should be carried out on tlie co-operative contract principle. Yet another requirement in political candidates has been discovered. . Several farmers in Te Awamutu were discussing the various candidates for the Waikato seat at the next election. After a 'review of policies none of the farmers concerned seemed to find any particular fancy for any one of the candidates. Finally one of the speakers made a decisive discovery. "So-and-so is a Jersey, supporter—he will do mc!" And they were all evidently of the same opinion. The manager of a large establishment in Gore (states the "MatauTa Ensign") says that he has been approached by; many country people requesting that temporary employment be given to girls in his workrooms and shop. Work cannot be found for these girls, and their parents rightly contend that a short experience in a town establishment -would have a beneficial effect. In conversation with an "Ensign" representative the manager in "question pointed out, however, that temporary employment such as that prQposed was impossible ■under the labour laws of the country. Only apprentices could be engaged for a stipulated period, generally three years, and the award rates had to be paid for the full time of apprenticeship, or other employment found for the girls should the work not be sufficient to keep them going. Thus it was impossible to find jobs of a temporary, naiure for many 1 who would otherwise be quite willing , to work for low remuneration in order to gain experience. The foreman reported to the Mount Albert Borough Council last evening that 600 cubic yards of waste matter had been handled in the special collection; in.-titiited in the district. The sanitary ! inspector also reported that "clean-up week" had been a decided success, and in future those persons allowing rubbish :to accumulate would at once be dealt ' with. "I should like to extend to the Press our thanks for the very full report* of pur proceedings," remarked Mr. F. iJ. Gardiner, president of the Sanitary Inspectors' Association, at the social evenr ing in connection with the association's .conference held at Christchurch. "I am not a great believer in American methods," he added, "but I believe if a fellow wants to get in he has to get up and crow, and the only way to get his crow heard nowadays is through the Press." The financial position of the borough of Mount Albert was referred to by the Mayor (Mr. A. F. Bennett) at the meeting of the Borough Council last evening. He stated that the draft annual balancesheet would prove very satisfactory. They were able to finish the financial year without any overdraft, while the debit balance of £2000 at the beginning of the year had been reduced by £929. Under the will of the late Mr. Richard John Binns, of Auckland, who died on the 23rd January, 1922. the Public Trustee is appointed executor. The -will provides that a share of the residue of the deceased's estate be used for the I advancement of the Wellesley Street Technical School. Auckland. Over forty solicitors attended the Magistrate's Court to-day, being evidently an attempt to clean up civil business before the Easter vacation. Under the circumstances quite a number of cases had to be adjourned until after the vacation. Many other cases which were undefended were quickly disposed; or. The Easter vacation of the Supreme Court commences to-morrow, and will extend to April 26. Buy it at Smith and Camber.. Ltd. Ad. On Thursday our premises will remain open until 9 p.m., closing from (then until Tuesday morning.—'Milne and Choyce, Ltd.—(iAd.) Goods of an inferior quality, goods we cannot recommend, are not permitted to enter our establishment. Buy it at Smith and Caughey, Ltd.— (Ad.) 80-inch linen finish twill sheeting, pure make, special price 3/3 yard cash at Tonson Garlick's.— (Ad.) On Thursday our premises will remain open until 1) p.m., closing from then until Tuesday morning.—'Milne and Ghoyce Ltd.— <*Ad.) Buy it at Smith and Caugiley, Ltd.—Ad.----54-inch white twill sheeting. Special price 2/3 yard cash at Tonson Garlick's (Ad.) Our showrooms are completely stocked with new and fashionable garments for autumn and winter. Early inspection advised. —Smith and Clughey, Ltd.—Ad. Tea pots, special reductions. English Roekingham in four sizes, 2/3. 2/9, 3/3, 3/fi cash, at Tpnson Garlick's.—(Ad.) McClintoivs Hibernia Shaving Stick improves the skin because it i≤ made from pure vegetable oils and plant ash. Get it—2/ in nickel container. Chemists, stores.— (Ad.) lg Goods of an inferior quality, goods we cannot recommend, are not permitted to enter our establishment. Buy it at Smith and Caughey, Ltd.—(Ad.)