AID TO GOLD MINING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 207, 29 May 1936, Page 10

AID TO GOLD MINING

Power For West Coast Of South Island TRANSMISSION LINE WILL COST £165,000 The Public Works Department’s scheme for the transmission of electric power to the West Coast from the Waitaki-Colpridge system will mvolve the expenditure of approximately 1165,000 on the construction of the line alone. This was indicated by the Minister of Public YVorks, Hon. It. Semple, who stilted in an interview last night that the project would allow rapid development of gold mining and other activities on the YVest Coast. “YVe investigated three sites near Hokitika for hydro-electricity generating plants,” said the Minister, “but to have provided power In that way from the biggest of these schemes would have cost £lBO,OOO and the total output would have been only 5000 kilowatts. We have at present 15,000 kilowatts to spare from the YY’aitakiColeridge supply, and there is plenty of scope there for an increase if it is required. To have developed two plants ou the West Coast, which might have U-en necessary, would have cost between £300,000 and £400,000, and then we would not have had as much power as will be available from the the scheme we have decided to undertake.” The Minister said that the scheme did not involve any extension of the existing plant at Waitaki, as the initial consumption on the West Coast would be only 7000 or 8000 kilowatts. The immediate object was to supply power for the development of gold dredging operations, lull if the demand was created the power would be available for other industries. On the road over to the Coast via the Cass and Arthur's Pass, tiie line would make power available for domestic consumption, and it was likely that eventually the department might consider using this supply for the electrification of the Otira tunnel. If this happened it would be possible to dispense with the existing power at Arthur’s Pass. “It is my opinion that this will prove ’o be a very profitable undertaking,” (he Minister continued, "for we already have au assured revenue from mining interests, and anything we do to assist nulling will increase the return to the State from the industry. One company alone proposes to spend £500,060 to £750.000 on tiie Coast, and other undertakings of a similar nature are contemplated.”