HYDRO – ELECTRIC POWER.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16515, 10 June 1919, Page 7

HYDRO - ELECTRIC POWER.

the canterbury schemes. (special to "nre press.") DUNEDIN, Juno 9. "When a deputation of local bodies today waited on Sir William Fraser to urge the carrying out of tho Lake Hawea hydro-electric scheme, the Minister stated that he had a report propared by Mr E. Parry, late chief electrical onginecr on electric power for the South Island. The report stated in regard to the Canterbury district— A fairly economical source is possible by diverting the Ahuriri river below Omarama into the Waitaki river near the Gooseneck. It is unlikely, however, that it would be prelerable to others lower down on the Waitaki, mentioned later. . Waitaki River—There are several places on the Waitaki river above Kurow where it is possible, by building a dam across the river, to generate a large amount of power. The Waitaki river, although to a certain oxtent controlled by the big lakes, is at times subject to heavy floods, bo that the work of building the dams and of providing for discharging the floid water is of considerable magnitude, and likely to make any development very expensive in the smaller stages. Lakes Ohau. Pukaki, and Tekapo— Economical sources of about 20,000 to 30.000 horse power capacity are available on any of these three lakes, but the distance from the market will make transmission too expensive to warrant their development before other sources have been thoroughly exhausted. Clarence R'ver—An economical development could be effected by diverting the Clarence river through Jolly's Pass on to the Hanmer Plains, but the situation is not very favourable for a general supply system. It is too near Coleridge on the one side, and too far from the available market in Nelson and Blenheim on the other side.

Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa —Either of these lakes is very well situated for supplying power to n general system, nnd for transmission lines to Blenheim, Nelson, and Westport, and also for Unking up to C'leridge through North Canterbury. The nature of the development and its exact value cannot, however, be stated without surveys to determine which is the better of the two. I have been unable to determine the best combination of sources for attaining the object in viow, a nd further investigations and surveys are necessary before a definite conclusion can be arrived at. The result of my investigations are, however, fairly conclusive in regard to the northern end of the is'and namely: That the most suitable position for the power station is at the out- ** of wtjier take Rotoiti or Lake R<>tofoa. The ult mnte development requi-es the provision of a power station on tho West Coast, and in all probability the pest source for this purpose would be found on the Toaroha river, hut further investigation is before a final decision can be arrived at. SHORTAGE OF LABOUR. Sir "William Praser (who leaves for the North to-morrow), in reply to the deputation, referred to the Lake Coleridge scheme, and said that if anyone haa doubts t about its success, he had only to visit the neighbourhood of Christchurch and see what it had done there for the farmers. It had been a revelation to a great many people, and therefore he thought whatever Government were in power they would find it their bounden duty to hasten the day when every part of the Dominion was supplied with electric power. It would pay any Government to go right into this thing and to say that they were prepared to spend ten or twelve millions. Nothing he knew of would pay a Government better. They only had to take Lake Coleridge as an example. He undertook to say that if the schemes were carried out properly, they would yield something like 8J per cent. He did not think himself that tho financial part of it should frighten them, but there was another matter to bo' considered, and that was unless they got the labour thev could not do it. The Government had not had the mon-power m this country for works during tho past five years. He was told on all sides that there would be thousands of men available soon, but he did not think the man-power of the country had inrreasod in the past four years. When all the men were back it would be found that Buch was the case. The number of men who had died during the war or been maimed exceeded the number of those who in the meantime had passed from i youth to manhood, nnd wlien all the soldiers were back New Zealand would be fortunate if she had as many men available as before the war.- The number for public works before the war never exceeded 5000, and at present he had only 3COO. If we were going on with works of this kind we should nave' to get more men into this country. The Dominion was languishing for want of population, and until moro men were provided, no amount of money could get the work done. WAIKAREMOANA PROJECT. ! (press association telegram.) j NAPIER, June 9. The Hike's Bay County Council voted £200 towards having a preliminary engineering survey made to ascertain whether 10,000 horse power is obtainable from Waikaremoana for an outlay of £200,000. It is proposed to obtain permission of the Government to have tho work carried out by the County Council under the Power Boards Bill.