HARNESSING THE WAIMAKARIRI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 81244, 13 March 1901, Page 3

HARNESSING THE WAIMAKARIRI.

THE DIFFICULTY SOLVED.- -.. Thar motive power which m,iy h'e.ut-ilisei for industrial purposes is,, daily., running.; t< r : waste; is •an undoubted 1 fact, and ■admitted 1; ' ■ "by all. • The question to be solved is, cast that power be controlled and .nseroV:’:. s at -a cheaper rate than that at present-atA our disposal? 1 This ,is a problem the suol ■ , cessful solving of which should he of interesi ■ ; to every citizen in Christchurch, We there fore consider it our duty to point out'"several;A; concrete facts.in connection rvth the qises tion that should not he lost sigjhk'ofiiin oonj sidcring the pros and cons of the-siibjeCLhV ' = : In the first- place, admitting, the :schem*‘r fo he practicable, will the. motive , pq\*Bii; : f : t; thus, acquired be- cheaper than that-.at prej‘'' seat in use? This, no doubt, will depone largely on the‘demand for tho new power for in proportion, 50,000 -horse-power will cost dess to produce Ilian 25;0C0, therefore* it is necessary to. have a very, 1 close, estii : b 1 male of the actual power at present in useand also, an - estimate of 'what ; extra ' del ; - mands ■ would .‘follow if. say,: a 25 ; per! cenT reduction of present cost could be effected; This, we take it, is-the industrial aspect ft .of the question. On the other hand, front-f - -a domestic point' of view, if . we' 'may :,t jA •tho term; the advantages scenj-.morelprb-f A; nounced and, apparent. A comprehensivi;A ,A water scheme, for household and public serf - -: vice, wc think, should have been inaugut rated yeais ago, and while admitting the great gift the artesian water supply;.haid ; T been to the '.inhabitants- of Garitefhnry,iesb : ! - peciully in isolated or poorly populated; dis«A/A' tricts, we cannot ‘hut taker into considerably* tion. the enormous 'amount of. monev At hav : - entailed, and’ to regret that:flip compataA;':'' :: ;A lively large sums, 'aggregating.-to :hchrly ; at'-t quarter of a million' sterling, spent- by prnrt"* vate individuals on.wells, rams and wind' 1 mills, etc., had not been spent- bn a las tins ,A--A and permanent- public scheme ] ike the pre; sent under discussion. Another point whicii --■-* requires grave consideration ‘is the precarii ousness of the' supply, for who knows how soon it may be unequal -to the. demand; and if, such a supposition ;» : -applicable’ ’al -1 * the present' time,! ..what,will ,-it beAn years’ time if the present rate 1 ■Q|.',buUdtn| ; JT.i : * is maintained- / :,-. -A; fi' A l ', i-:A:-:■fat; Tn..giving/our verdict.,and 'taking,.''all:tii<lj-Aj: above; p thus. into' 'considdution;.;;,'we' ■■] AA hesitation-in -saying! thattlieiadiial ■ manufacturers, ‘even ! ;Khppo?mg:,,;:a ; - 'SSApeil| At centAediictinp: in motive jsrl suiredj; would" hot uhafcd sispepi:ip': ! ..inlLth|i i S difference: on any, aril do jrnih ufi !cturej|;ajs i? ■present, ■ * but ■ for; - p’iir'pdsbtA TkdjA!!; scheme'ife; just as much a Arab,Shah ‘I : ; qtid' ; “ : Coli ardtp; the ■ public;