WATER POWER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 10, 13 January 1926, Page 12

WATER POWER.

AT WEST COAST SOUNDS. A PARTY'S EXPERIENCES. Within the West Coast Sounds it is. estimated there is water power with commercial potentialities aggregating two million horse-power, and in the years to come it is possible that this vast area of rugged country may, through its water-power, produce more wealth per acre than the best farming lands of our fertile districts, says the "Dominion." One -of the largest of these inland waterways is Doubtful Sound, which also connects with Smith's, Bradshaw's, and Thompson's Sounds, First Arm, Crooked Arm, Hall's Arm, Gear Arm, and Deep Cove. It is expected that local industries will make it possible to open up this superb scenery at a reasonable cost to those who would view the most charming spots of a country abounding from end to end with varied and exquisite scenery. N-o industry, it is argued, should be allowed which would mar in any way the landscape.. During a recent visit to the cove a party, of which Messrs. J. Orchiston and A. L. Hunt were members, witnessed one of Nature's rare evolutions in the i=-ha-pe of an immense landslide. On first arriving at the hut a small landslip was noticed high up on the cliffs about two hundred yards away, across the Lyvia River. From time to time bouldeTS would crash to' the flat •beneath. A few days* after the party arrived they all, from different positions, viewed a sight they will long remember. Following a rumbling sound some six acres of the forest-clad hillside came sliding down from about 500 ft up. Hundreds of great beech trees, 2ft to 3ft in diameter, maintaining their erect position, down, piling themselves together with tons .of rock in a splinI tered mass of debris over the three or I four acres of flat on the riveT bank just opposite the hut, and forcing the standing trees out over the river to a slanting angle. Immediately following the slide I a great white cloud rolled up the valley. It looked more like steam than dust. One of the party secured a photograph of the phenomena. • The fact that this is the first landslide of any dimensions that has occurred in the neighbourhood for at least twenty-five years proves that a unique sight was witnessed.