WEST COAST SOUNDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1926, Page 8

WEST COAST SOUNDS.

PROSPECT BEING MADE. SEARCH FOR POSSIBLE POWER. THROUGH UNEXPLORED COUNTRY. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") DUNEDIN, this day. The announcement that the Government has refused to sanction the use of Milford waterfalls as a source of power for the production of nitrates caused disappointment to many. Compensation is, however, made in the statement that the Public Works Department is investigating other parts of the same region in the hope of finding some means of arriving at the same result without desecrating the scenery. Mr. Jenkins, assistant engineer on the Otago staff of the Public Works Department, has been engaged for the past month with a small party of experienced men in viewing the country that lies between Doubtful, Daggs and Breaksea Sounds, and Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau, his instructions being to compile information of any possibilities of supplying , power by means of tunnelling from either of those lakes to any one of the three sounds mentioned. The lakes are much above sea level. Mr. Jenkins has a wide charter, being authorised to report as to any possibility that he sees on looking through the region, part of which is unexplored, so that his investigations may take a while. It is hoped that his discoveries will furnish the foundation of a scheme for extensive power development. The object of exploration is not the furtherance of any immediate or already promulgated demand by any person or company, but to ascertain authoritatively whether the West Coast sounds are available for any commercial enterprises that depend upon a practically unlimited and inexhaustible supply of electric power, such as will advance the interests of the dominion.