A SWISS ELECTRICIAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13066, 4 March 1903, Page 5

A SWISS ELECTRICIAN.

ARRIVAL OF MR ALLO. Mr Alio arrived from Wellington yesterday. He is the Swiss electrical expert engaged by the Government to estimate the value of the colony’s water power resources for the generation of electrical energy, and to make proposals for its use. Mr-Alio has already spent some weeks in the North Island, where he met with a good reception. He will now report' on (he Waimakariri as a power supply for Christchurch. Mr Allo’s present position is that of engineer to the Mashiven Fabrik Oorlikon, a Swiss firm which is famous on the Continent for its successful accomplishment of many very great undertakings in electrical works, including railways. It is now engaged in converting one of the main Swiss lines into an electric system, and for the past two years has been ah work on the Jungfrau Mountain Railway. This has to run to a height of 16,000 ft up the famous Jungfrau, and 12,000 ft have been completed. It will take two years longer to finish, the line. Hydraulic work ha® always been one of the firm's leading features, and it is now carrying out one of the greatest proposals ever made—the supply of electrical plant, of 96,000 horse-power, for Zurich. To carry out the scheme it was necessary to transform a huge valley into an artificial lake. This is a great enterprise, and its value was recognised at the Paris Exposition where it was awarded the only gold medal given for an engineering scheme. The use of water power to provide electricity has already been of great benefit to Switzerland, where coal is dear, and. has been responsible for the growth of many new industries in the little mountain country. ■ Mr Alio is specially commissioned to ascertain the. available power from 1 the minimum flow of New Zealand rivers. Having had twenty years’ experience as consulting engineer to several of the largest European and American electrical engineering firms, and having made a special study of hydraulic power, he hopes to be able to do his work thoroughly. He will, of course, have to depend in some measure for information upon people who know the habits of the rivers upon which he has to report. He thinks that the wants of .Christchurch, with Lyttelton possibly added, will demand the generation of from 30,000 to 40,000 horse-power, and he would strongly advocate the erection'of a very powerful plant, if any were erected. It is always cheaper, In the long rim, to generate a surplus of power for emergencies and the expansion of industries, which' will probably follow in the wake of water-power. He is of opinion that many towns in the colony could pro-duce-their own electric light for public and private nse, and make a profit by selling power for industrial woik. Electricity could be used' by many industries in the North Island much more cheaply than steam. Probably the fir;* cost of the former would always be the cheaper, and the more power used the less would be the proportionate cost. The use of cheap water-power in Switzerland has increased the country’s power of production enormously, and* now Swiss manufactures can compete successfully with German steampower rivals, though higher rates of wages rule in Switzerland. Soon after his arrival yesterday Mr Alio saw the Mayor (Mr H. F. Wigram), and arranged to go out to the Waimakariri almost at once. Mr Wigram was unable to

accompany him, but Mr A. D. Dobson, the city engineer, Air W. H. Hales, Engineer-in-Ohief of the Public Works Department, and Mr W. H. Gavin, engineer of the Midland Railway, went with Air Alio to Springfield by the afternoon train. They will visit the Waimakariri and Otirai, and expect to return on Saturday night.