POWER FOR TIMARU.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18107, 24 June 1924, Page 7

POWER FOR TIMARU.

UNCTION OF SECOND LINE.

J apk TO BE STARTED SOON. J * OBK if has been known generally that ' j '' le time past the Public Works has had under considerah question of the desirableness \T. & Ljiag a second transmission line "A* the J- ;l ' i0 Coleiidge Power Timaru. Yesterday Mr JfacGibbon : resident engineer, scheme, was in a posijr jo state in reply to a reporter's I "'lcon on the subject that the DeHi 1 „» had decided to erect the gT transmission line to limaru. .Wfl n eir transmission line will be 1- «ntfiw construction to tne existin athlit'.on, it will have gfe voltage.auacity. TheLVpartW t has been carrying out expen|i|«* w jth the suspension type ot WtZ and the results have been ilfff'a char,cter that it has been ilXl to install this type ot msulE on the new Hue The materia Wf the new line is to be ordered and the work of erecting Although the route lias "4 Awn vet definitely decided upon s| ? i= understood that it will not run rtllel ah the way with the present line. It may cross the JaSUata river where tho existing or may cross higher upI dream at tho Arundel bridge. The second transmission line, when erected, njU, it is believed, remove „' nv of the causes for complaint made £citijr regarding the alleged unreliability of the suPPb - o f power from Coleridge to Timaru; it should, at w reduce the possibility of power interruptions. Tlie new line is being constructed to carry a higher voltage than the present one, as, in all probability it will form a part of the transmission system when the Coleridge Potrer Station is linked up with the ffaipori Power Station.

I TEKAPO SCHEME. SO OPPOSITION FROM CHURCH. In "Tho Press" yesterday appeared statements from business men of Ipmam regarding the supply of elecMjric current to their town from a prolljsed power station at Tekapo, and lite view seemed to be held that the M % of Christchurch was taking up an j Kiitude of hostility to the contemi plated southern development. I "The people of Timani,'' said the Slavor of Ciiristchurch (Mr J. A. flesher) yesterday, "appear to be under a misapprehension regarding the attitude of Christchurch towards their suggested Tekapo installation as compared with the "Waimakarin installation for this city. So far as Chnstchnroli is concerned there is no feeling of jealousy or antipathy or anything tf the kind towards Tinwru. The people of Christchurch will say it Timaru can, get its Tekapo installation and use the new plant to its fullest advantage in Timaru, good luck to ftem. But ail the arguments in i'avJmsr of Timaru having the Tekapo inflation apply with greater forceito th» city of Christchurch m respect of proposal. I understand that the proposed Tekapo installation will be about 70 miles from Timaru, whereas the proposed installation at the Waimakariri for Ciiristchurch is only 42 miles away from the city, and it is a well-known fact that the nearer the source of supply is to the place of consumption the more efficient will bo the system. 1 think it is only fair that this statement as to the position of Christchurch should be made lit order to allay the fears and suspicions of the people of »South CanIWbury. If ever there was an cocalion when the whole of Canterbury [ihould pull together, it is to-day." Mr A. F. "Wright, a. member of the _ Jieoutive of the Canterbury Progress league, said he had read with astonishment the observations of the busiKBB men of Timaru concerning the Canterbury Progress League. It was rholly untrue to say that the League 1 trying to dominate South Canter--«ry or to advocate the claims of the ity as against the interests of the province. A deputation from tht f«agne had visited Timaru by special invitation*from the Mayor and leadlug citizens. The aim 9 and objects of the. Canterbury Progress League were ttplained at a meeting called by the Mayor and the members of the deputation made it quite clear that the wague was out to help Timaru to whatever extent possible in any direction; required. It was quite untrue toj suggest that the League had any ulterior motive or any desire to enjjranpass the absorption of Timam. jhe.Tekapo scheme had never beer "scussed formally by the Canterbury jfogress. League, and to say the IJ*»gue was opposing it was quite iuiFM. As a matter of fact the indivijM members of the executive of the all favoured the idea of the i*»*po scheme for the benefit oi JjJJ'aru and would be willing to assisl "* southern town in securing tin Becessary authority to proceed witJ we work

AMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL

DISSATISFIED.

*ANTS CONCESSION IN CHARGE,

(STICUL TO "thb pbiss.") TIMARU, June 23. •it to-night's meeting of the Timaru Vagh Council the Electric Power **& Light Committee submitted a ktteifromjir R. G. Mac Gibbon, resi- *"* electrical engineer in the Public Works Department, Christchurch. The letter stated that steps were king taken to increase the reliability * «e Coleridge lino; that the Be--srtoent"was considering the erection p.* duplicate line from Windwhistle •tot to Timaru, with suspension mr*to|rs; that no second-hand msulaJjWwere used on the present line, but ?** several different makes of first3** insulators were used, with the | 3? "* of ascertaining which makes ***'inost suitable in active 6ervice, all tlie makes, with one exhad proved satisfactory-' '»* Committee recommended that be mnde to the Minister J*'Public Works for a concession in for Lake Coleridge hydropower on the following P«mds :~(a) That the Department the Council, prior to the comr«°n of the Christchiirch-Tima.ru £"> that Timaru would be charged A IWinion flat rate: ta } b ) Tliat. notwithstanding that J*"?*nco, concessions had teen made .7 Promised to other districts, and £*t the Dominion flat rate was not, j'lg enforced, with the result that ■IP* focal bodies were being supplied *|Wgeed rates; jjWi .That since the first supply of power on December 9th, to the end of May, 1921, it had

failed 75 times, and the current had i been actually cut off for 270 hours 21 i minutes; (ci) That the present 10 per cent. allowance in charges for a stand-by plant entitled the Government to only 100 hours yearly, where:>s the standby plant had already carried the load largely in excess of those hours during the past five months; . (e) That these frequent interruptions rendered it necessary for the council to run its plant daily, as a precautionary measure, at a large additional expense, which, added to the Government charges, meant a duplication of the cost of Timaru's power supply ; (f) That the Government charges alone were largely in excess of the figure at which ' the Council could generate power with an up-to-date steam plant: (g> That the Council found it impossible to build up a paying load on tho present high charges and unreliable supplv of current, and wa.s certainly entitled to a substantial concession as a set-off to the extra cost of running its plant; (hj That the Council had the ratepayers' sanction to borrow the necessary money to install steam power, but wa.s anxious to exhaust evenmeans of obtaining a reliable supply of hydro-electrir- power at a reasonable rata before proceeding to install fctcam ;

(i) That before further considering the steam proposal the Minister be urged to give Timaru claims prompt and favourable consideration.

JOINING NORTH AND SOUTH

DEPUTATION TO TIMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL. (special to "the raß-:s.") TIMARU, June 23. At to-night's meeting of the Timani Borough Council a deputation, consisting of Messrs P. R. Climie, R. L. Wi-ley, V. C May. R D. Halstead, R. B. Roll, T. R. Mackay, \\. D. Revell, Dr. C. A. Paterson, and Commander E. G. Rhodes, waited on the Council.

Mr Mackay said they wished to ask the Council to give a subsidy towards the Canterbury Progress League for the benefit of South Canterbury.

■Mr Climie outlined the history of the League since it 3 inception, and explained the nature of the work accomplished. There was no limit to the amount of work the League could accomplish provided they pulled together, and the service of the League to the Province knew no bounds. They themselves were not seeking an enlargement of their territory, hut were waiting on the Council in deference to the wish of South Canterbury people themselves. As to the Tekapo scheme, those members of his League who had seen anything of the scheme were very much impressed with it. TW had no idea of trying to block the Tekrpo The League had tried to help South Canterbury, nnd was then told it was doing it an injury. The statement that they were attempting to block the scheme was absolutely false. If South Canterbury joined* up their contribution would be £76 los, which would work out at oid ner ratepayer. Cr. Guinness asked if the Progress League was prepared to help the Highways Board in bridging rivers, particularly the Rangitata, where a traffic bridge was wanted. Mr Climie: The case is strong, and when the time comes the executive will give it consideration. Cr Manchester wanted to know it other local bodies would fall into line. If all the bodies were united it would Ik- a splendid thing for South Canterbury. . ~, \lr Climie said the question was difficult, but he agreed that unity was , essential. If this Council agreed the other local holies would be waited on. The Timaru Borough Council ought to «et the example. If the League found that the people of South Canterbury 1 were unanimous on a particular scheme, then the League would give its stinport. In replv to a question by the Mayor, Air Climie said that South Canterbury could retain its individuality, as it could set up a local committee. Cr Vinnell asked if the League had ' ever discussed the "Waimakarin scheme, and received a negative reply-. . , The Mavor thanked Mr Climie and '. the deputation for their attendance. Some discussion took place regard- , ing holding the matter over.. The Mayor said tho whole intention ! 3*>med to be to thwart the joining ; UP Cr. Vinnell said it was a matter ; for the people who had to find the ! money, not the council alone. CM. SittcTthwaite moved: inat I the opinion of the borough solicitors be obtained as to the legality in vot- . ing a sum of money to the Canterbury Progress League." . The motion was carried.