HOCHSTETTER PROJECT

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1932, Page 12

HOCHSTETTER PROJECT

At a meeting of the Board on October 22, 1923, a letter was read from Mr W. Forrest Marshall, acting under power of attorney for the debenture holders of the Lake Hochstetter Goldfields Ltd., suggesting the Board meet him for the purpose of discussing a proposal that the Board buy its power in bulk from the Company. The Chairman then said they would meet Mr Marshall, but could not do anything. They would, however, hear what he had to say. At this time the case for the Arnold scheme was not flattered by at least one person, namely Mr W. Forrest Marshall. A report appearing in the Greymouth “Star”, in the form of an interview, stated: — An explanation of the scheme outlined by him for the development of Lake Hoch-

stetter as an electric power source was explained by Mr Marshall, who bears the highest credentials from the New South Wales Government, and who has superintended the investigation land financing of other hydro-electric works, has no connection with the old company that controlled the work at Lake Hochstetter. He is interested in the de\ T elopmcnt of mining in this district by methods that previously were neglected, and, to make final arrangements, he proceeds to America to lay the plans before large engineering interests in that country. The maximum power of the Arnold River scheme was 4,500 h.p. at any time and for all time, said Mr Marshall. This could not be looked upon as anything but a “ domestic 1 ’ supply, as there was no potential development beyond that maximum. The cost of getting power

to Greymouth was stated to be IJd per unit, and it was proposed to spend £51,500 on the erection of a hydro plant. There was no guarantee that the dam could be erected at the estimate, and it was possible that difficulties would be met in striking bedrock. A dam was already constructed at Lake Hochstetter, where the company had spent £lOO,OOO in building dams, conserving lake Avorks and building a tunnel. The Arnold River scheme was a duplication of the work and even if the hopes of the engineers were entirely fulfilled, it would provide only a small amount of power and was to be self-supporting only after three years. Until then it was a loss, and really no benefit to mouth from an industrial point of view. Mr Marshall went on to praise up Lake Hochstetter.

The loan for the construction of the hydro was raised on very favourable terms and generally speaking the cost of the hydro loan is fully met by the saving effected in the abandonment of .steam, and in the provision of a plant, two and a half times the capacity of the present steam plant.