WATER POWER?

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13596, 3 December 1909, Page 8

WATER POWER?

THE HORA HORA SCHEME

AN EXTENSIVE UNDERTAKING

(SPECIAL TO "THE PBESS.") WELLINGTON, December 2. The agreement between the Government and the Waihi Gold Mining Compeny in regard to the Company's Hora Hora water power scheme for electrical generation purposes, was ratified by the Cabinet and signed to-day. The Hon. Seymour Thome-George, a New Zealand director of the Company? has supplied your representative with the leading details of tho arrangement. The agreement gives the Company power to take water to the extent of ten thousand horse-power for a term of 42 years, without the option of renewal. The price to be paid for the water is three shillings per horsepower per annum. It is provided that the Government may take over the installation at any time during the term of the license, at a valuation, and also that any local body within access of the scheme shall have the right to be supplied with power by the Company. I* is estimated that the installation wi'l cost about £150,000." The distance from the Hora Hora Rapids to Waihi is 51 miles. One of the features of the work will be a huge water race from the ; falls to the generating station. mis will be about 1500 feet long and about 100 feet wide. Work will be commenced at once, and tbe greatest despatch will be used. It is anticipated that the work will be completed within about eighteen months, or possibly two years at the outside. Although it is proposed to utilise 10,000 horse-power at the generating station, a considerable percentage of power will, of course, be lost in transmission over the 51 miles. The power will be utilised in connection with the company's mine and works. The scheme will be the first of its kind in the North Island, and one of the largest in New Zealand. The only I other large scheme now in operation in j the Dominion ia the Waipori installa-- i tion at Dunedin.