IN NATIONAL PARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1926, Page 6

IN NATIONAL PARK.

BIG WATER POWER SCHEME. ON SMITH SOUND TKACK. SYNDICATE GETS LICENSES. MANAPOURI AND STREAMS. NITRATE WORKS PROJECTED. (By TelogrnpU.—Special to "Star.") I ■ WELLINGTON, this day. The Government has approved an Ortler-in-Council authorising a New Zealand syndicate to utilise waters from Lake Manapouri and other sources run--ning into Doubtful Sound for generating electricity. There was considerable controversy when the scheme was first projected, as it was thought by some that such a valuable scenic feature as Bowen Fall, Milford Sound, would be destroyed. The sphere of operations is now well away from the frequented soonic centre and will not interfere with natural features. Authority is given to the licensees to take sufficient water to.generate up to 250,000 horse power. Tlip length of the concession is CO years, when the Crown will have the right to take over the works by payment of its then value, or, if the option be not exercised, to grant a renewal for a further 42 years at a rent to be fixed. The rent for the lirst term is at the rate of.one shilling per kilowatt per annum of the maximum output, and will h,e chargeable five veiirs after the company has generated power for general purposes. One condition of the license is that the charge for electrical energy supplied at licensees' power house shall not exceed one penny per unit. An area of supply in the Lake County is defined in th'o Oder-in-Couiicil. The " licensees undertake, within seven years, to develop 25,000 kilowatts, or to expend on works at least £100,000, otherwise the license will lapse. Among the conditions of license are clauses that the licensees will not permit their employees to do anything which may cause destruction of birds or any form of wild animal life, nor eliall they unnecessarily cause serious disfigurement from a scenic point of view, and they must undertake to use all precautions to preserve the scenic attractions of the neighbourhood. The power works is to be situated in Doubtful Sound, and will utilise several falls, capable of giving a to*al power supply of 250,000 horse power. i The syndicate, which has obtained the license from the Government, is a preliminary one. which has provided sufficient capital for surveys and legal preliminaries.-It will now be neceseury to form a company, the licensees undertaking to do do within six years. The power is to be used for the manufacture of synthetic nitrate, which is the chemical base for a number of valuable products, including fertilisers, and the sul- ' phurie acid required for the production of superphosphates. The licensees are: Gerald Fitzgerald, Wellington, company director; Charles I Edward Daniell, Mastertoti, merchant J I Arthur Leigh Hunt, Wellington, company director; William Duffus Hunt, Wellington; company director; Phincas J Leyi, Wellington, solicitor; John Gerrie I Neil, Dnnedin, manufacturing chemist; Joseph Orehiston, Wellington, retired telegraph engineer; Lemuel. Thomas. Watkins, Wellington, master printer; Sir James Glenny Wilson, Bulls, farmer; and Hnrbcn Robert Young, Westport, civil engineer.