HYDRO-ELECTRICS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2904, 17 October 1916, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRICS

POWER FOR WELLINGTON DISTRICT. The subject of hydro-electric power ■ for _ Wellington and .the, district is, a subject that crops up about, once a year, but there is littlo likelihood of thero being anything more than talk at present, for protty obvious reasons. Speak- . ing to the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luko) yesterday, that gentleman, said:— "I seo tho Wairarapa. peoplo (local bodies) intend to arrange a joint con- • ferenco and 'wait upon tho Minister in connection with the hydro-electric scheme for the district. Representa- ,: tfons ,wcro received somo time ago that .pointed to somo definite step being taken, but how far the scheme has de- ■ yeloped 1 don't know, and therefore it is hardly ready for public discussion'. Some two meetings ago tho City Coun--4 cil decided' to' wait upon tho Minister as a deputation as soon as they were assured that tho time was opportune, but wo have received word'from tho :. Minister that, owing to his having been under an obligation to visit tho local bodies of the Dominion (as promised in Parliament) ho would not bo able to receive tho deputation for a few days. However, that time is now over, and the Minister will, I bolievo, bo able to receive us this week, whon tvo hopo to . ascertain somothing of the Government's intentions, so that we can see where the City will come in. "The City Engineer (Mr. Morton) has given a good deal of attention to this matter lately as General Manager of the Tramways—th© biggest consumer of power in the district. "Tho Wairarapa Conference is also to .'take place this week, which points to the possibility of Mr. Parry (the Government hydro-electric. expert) being ready with, 6ome sort of power scheme that wiy serve either tho whole or parts of the Wellingtons district, without a . transmission lino of too groat a length."