The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 21, 1901. ELECTRIC POWER.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 112, 21 May 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MAY 21, 1901. ELECTRIC POWER.

Tim report of Messrs Steuart and Fenn on the harnessing of Te Reinga Falls for electricity is proving an excellent advertisement for this district, apart from its merit for immediate practical purposes. In the Weekly News of Saturday there is a very line pictorial view of tho Falls, from a photograph by Mr C. P. Browne, and the News also gives a well-written article in reference to the subject. The picture is thus introduced: —

“ It has been suggested that the romantic and beautiful Te Reinga Falls, which are shown among our illustrations, shall be harnessed to supply Gisborne with electric light. Messrs Steuart and Fenn, of Auckland, were asked to report on the matter. Mr Steuart, who examined the water,, power, gives some interesting information regarding it. He says that the Te Reinga Falls can be most easily and cheaply utilised, no timber fluming or expensive headworks being required ; that a fall of a hundred feet could be obtained by a short rock cutting.” Continuing, the News states' —“ Turbines at the foot of Te Reinga working dynamos, which would convey electricity to Gisborne, is the method advocated. The distance from Te Reinga to Gisborne is about 30 miles, but the wires for conveying the power this distance would not prove a very serious expense. Gisborno is a rapidly-growing town; in fact, few places in New Zealand have gone ahead to such an extent, and as tho immense areas of good land surrounding the town are opened up, and as communication by road and railway is improved, settlement will increase. So far as is known the Poverty Bay district has no coal supply, so electricity should be of great importance to Gisborne in the future. At present the Gisborneitos seem to think the scheme a bit too ambitious, but with their rapidly increasing population the cost of the scheme, which is estimated not to exceed 1233,000, will soon be considered a mere item in progressive works. It has been a matter of wonder to many people that New Zealand, with its abundance of water power, does not use electricity instead of steam, as is the case in some parts of America ; but it will require time before this country is sufficiently thickly populated to make great power plants of profitable uso. The South Island, with its backbone of snow-clad mountains, giving rise to innumerable rivers, has been quoted as the seat of electrical development ; but thegreat rivers there with furious floods and ever-changing beds are difficult to harness. It is the northern rivers that can be cheaply utilised. The Waikato, from Lake Taupo to Cambridge, alone would givo powor enough to drive all the factories in Auckland, whilst in every other part of the province there are rivers and streams admirably adapted for the development of electricity, which will undoubtedly be the motive power of the future.”

It will be over six months before the test required as to flow of water at Te Eeinga can be made, but the general opinion of people well acquainted with the locality is that there will not be much doubt upon that score.

Mr J. Peckover has a chaiige of advertisement in this issue.

Mr C. Neenan offers a reward for a black horse .and a brown horse lost at Puhatikotiko.

An interesting letter from Trooper Ashdown appears on the fourth page of today’s Times. A man Hocked up for drunkenness on Saturday’'night had upon him a bank draft for .£7OO.

Messrs Clayton Bros, call for tenders for cutting about 20 acres of scrub and rushes at Mangapapa. • - Mr W. J. Quigley, architect, invites tenders for plumbing work in connection with the erection of the Murewai Hotel. The Hospital Ball .Committee meet this evening at 7.30, at the Borough .Council Chambers. A full attendance is requested.

The treasurer of tlie Hospital acknowledges with thanks receipt of £1 12s 6d from the Contingent Reception Committee, being balance after defraying expenses of reception. Mr J. S. Cooper, of the Morore Hot Springs Hotel, wired to the Times yesterday afternoon : “ The fine weather has greatly improved the road. The worst places have been repaired, and the road to the Springs is now in good order.” ; Mr W. H. Cl ay ton - writes complaining of his boy being thrashed yesterday for being absent from school, owing to a large gathering the boy has had on his knee, and which was still unhealed. Mr Clayton expresses the opinion that “ the teacher should be treated by the Animals Protection Society.” At the meeting ; at Wesley Hall last night Mr W. Douglas Lysnar, who took a prominent part in opposing prohibition at the last poll, said that he had not received a penny from anybody for his expenses. It had been reported that he had received £SOO, but the only thing he had received was the banner given him (jocularly) by the prohibitionists. That he had had framed and given a place of honor in his smoking-room.

At the Natives’ Association Rooms last evening a largo and influential meeting of ladies and gentlemen who are in sympathy with Mrs Blair in her sad loss was held. The Rev. H. Williams was voted to the chair. Ladies’ and gentlemen’s committees were formed to make the necessary arrangements for holding a monster concert on' Monday next, also committees to collect subscriptions. During the evening a canvass was made in the rooms, when upwards of £25 was subscribed for this deserving object. Great credit was .given by several present to the Natives’ Association for the early and active part they had taken in the matter. Mr J. M. Cumming was appointed Secretary, and will receive all moneys and hand same over to His Worship the Mayor. The following committee was appointed : Mesdames Townley, Rothwell, Paterson, Webb, Williams, R. N. Jones, Siddells, East, Bennett, Cogar, Attwood, P. Maher, Messrs J. Townley, E. P. Joyce, H. Bull, Attwood, F. Harris, P. Maher, J. Marshall, T. Adair, A. Sawyer, T. Hood, J. Sheridan, Goldsworthy, J. Lucas, with power to add. ' Several sub-committees were appointed to carry out the various arrangements. A meeting of the committee will be held at the Natives’ Association’s Rooms this evening at a quarter to seven sharp.