WATER POWER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14192, 15 October 1906, Page 5

WATER POWER.

ITS APPLICATION TO THE RAILWAYS. STATEMENT BY THE HON W. HALL-JONES. [From Our Correspondent.} WELLINGTON, October 13. In replying to a deputation of Pongarora settlers, who made a request for a line of railway from -Masterton to Waipukurau, the Minister of Railways made some important statements regarding the development of the latent water-power of the country and its application in future to the working railways. The country, he said, would not go in for an increased borrowing policy, and in the meantime all energy would be concentrated on the Main Trunk lino. In less than tin - ee years’ time this work would be completed, and the Government would be in a position to deal more liberally with the other works in hand. As Minister of Railways, he desired to do the right thing in the interests of the colony, es the application of water- . power to the working of the railways would alter the whole system. Instead of grades like one in sixty-five and one in seventy having to be preserved, the line® could follow the undulations of the country, and extensive cuttings and tunnelling could be avoidr ed. In the course of time, he believed, the whole of the New Zealand railways would be electrified, and trains would be running over the lines at intervals of an hour. They really would not he trains, but chains of a few care, run to suit the requirements of the population, and the demands of produce traffic. Because this could ho done, it would be possible to construct lighter lines, with lighter bridges, at a greatly reduced cost, and trains could bo run practically continuously, at a cost not in excess of the existing expenditure. This was the policy he was ever keeping before him. The deputation would naturally inquire, “ When do you think it will be possible to have water-power applied 1o the railways?” In reply he could only say that any scheme for the application of. water-power would be very oostly, and most careful inquiry would have to be made and details mutually thought out before any definite pro-

posals were made. The difficulties of surveys had entailed delays, which had prevented him from bringing down, certain information in this connection which he had hoped to be in the position of placing before Parliament at an early date this session. Water-power, he affirmed, was going to' be a great and important factor in the development of New Zealand. _ He, believed that in twelve months’ time he would have formulated some definite proposals for railing the country on the lines he had suggested.