Sites Suggested For New Power Generators In North Canterbury

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27498, 4 November 1954, Page 9

Sites Suggested For New Power Generators In North Canterbury

Giving an outline of the power posIsibilities of North Canterbury, Mr Arthur Lush told the Canterbury Progress League yesterday that a thorough investigation had not been made by the Government. “There is certainly a need for investigation,” he said. Mr Lush told the meeting that 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 kilowatts could be developed from a dozen stations on the Waiau; Hurunui and Clarence rivers. “All this winter,”- he said, “the rivers in North Canterbury have been high, while the snow-fed rivers, the Clutha and Waitaki, from which we get power, have been low.” With slides, Mr Lush showed the meeting various sites on the three rivers mentioned which, he said, would be suitable for power development. He said there were four sites on the Hurunui. six on the Waiau, and two stations could draw their supply from the Clarence. Rock formations were adequate for dams. “One of thfe peculiarities of the power system in New Zealand is that there has never been a special investigation of rivers here,” said Mr Lush. When the Latta report was published, it was said that nine-tenths of the

power for the North Island could only come from the Waikato river. Mr Lush showed on a map where he claimed, rivers could be harnessed in the North Island. They drew water from 2000 ft; but they had not been examined. he said.

“When anybody assures us that no water can be harnessed in the North Island, apart from that on the Waikato, and that power will have to be transferred from the South Island, we should ask: ‘How do you know?’ A proper investigation has not been made,” Mr Lush said. Discussing the building of power stations in North Canterbury, Mr Lush said: “There could be an interchange of load in connected stations to suit the flow conditions of individual rivers. All through this winter, the rivers in North Canterbury have been high while the snow-fed rivers of the south have been low.”

Mr A. Buckingham, engineer for the North Canterbury Electric Power Board, said the board would inspect two suggested sites for powef stations on the Hurunui on November 20.

The league decided to ask Mr Buckingham to make a report to the next meeting.