THE LAKE COLERIDGE HYDROELECTRIC SCHEME.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13906, 3 December 1910, Page 10

THE LAKE COLERIDGE HYDROELECTRIC SCHEME.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PREBS.") WELLINGTON, December 2. In Ills speech on the Public WorKS Statement to-night, Mr T. E. Taylor dealt with figures given by Mr l< , . Black in his criticism of the- Government's reports on the Lake Coleridge scheme, and maintained that .ur Bl.ica and one of his newspaper supporters had been guilty of carelessly reading Mr Birk's renort. He was very glad indeed that this scheme had been launched, and with caution he believed there would he no financial loss. Mr Jennings: It's a gamble after all. Mr Taylor continued that he believed that if the Hutt and Lake Coleridge estimates were reasonably accurate in so far as the estimated cost was concerned, then these schemes would be a source of profit. He urged that the work should bo carried out by day labour. The Hon. R. McKenzie, in the course of his reply, referring to the water

power system. Raid .that when the proposals came <lown Mr Wilford was very sceptical. There might be a fen- discrepancies in Mr Birk"s figures. tie declared that the Lake Colerulge scheme would Iw) very easily developed. He doubted the feasibility of doing the work by day labour, because the mouth of the ■tunnel would be 30 feet below tho level of the lake, and it would want experienced men for the work.