HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Marlborough Express, Volume LII, Issue 190, 10 August 1918, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

DISCUSSION' BY BOROUGH

COUNCIL

The following report was presented to tho Borough Council on Thursday night by the Electrical Committee :_ ■'The Council in appointing this Committee expressly forbade it to incur expenditure out of the revenues or the Borough and thereby .seriously hampered its investigations. Before tlo Comnittee can give any practical attention to the suggestion made by tho Nelson City Council, or otherwise, make an effective report, it is essential that funds for such purpose be voted. The Committee accordingly ask that the- sum of £21 b'j voted for the purpose, in the first instance, of testing the capacity of the Waihopai and Wairau Rivers."

Councillor Cooke, the chairman of the Committee, moved the adoption of the report. The idea was to engage an electrical engineer to measure the capacity of tho two rivers and give the Couacil a leading indication as to their suitability as sources of electric power. He understood that tho vote now suggested would cover the cost of such, a report. He quoted a Government report, dated 1904, which represented tho Clarence River as having about 10,000 horsa power, Lake Rotoiti 20,000 and the Waihopai River 3000, and whicli advised that if Blenheim contemplated electric lighting it should firsi consider the Waihopai. He very much doubted the wisdom of going as far afield as Lake Rotoiti and dividing whatever energy was available there with two other provinces.

A lengthy discussion ensued. Councillor Birch seconded the motion pro forma. He was anxious to see an electrical scheme formulated, but he wanted to see something practicable. He had been to Lake Rotoiti, and he was very sceptical as to whether ics outfall had even a fraction, of the powei* that it was credited with.

The Mayor referred to the factthat the report presented some years ago by Mr John Sturrock, the engineer who produced the water and drainage scheme, put the idea of obtaining; sufficient electric power from the "Waihopai quite out' of courts He preferred to join in, with Nelson and get a decisive report on the Lake liotoiti proposal.

Councillor Carr shared Councillor Birch's doubt as to tha amount of energy offering at Lake- Rotoiti. Wtih regard to the Waihopai and the Wairau, a one-Jay nspection by even the best engineer would only afford rough guesswork. If the Council was really bent on pushing on with the hydro-eleetrie business just now it might be better to engage a locxl surveyor to measure up the horse-power. The suggestion was made that the Town Clerk, who has' engineering qualifications, be asked to give the Council expert assistance in the matter.

Councillor Gascjigne said that, having heard the- discussion, ho thought it would be wise to refer the matter back to the Comr. ittee.

Councillor Lesli© strongly supported the motion. It was high time that Blenheim started to get out of the ruck. He did mot think that Lake Rotoiti had nearly the amount of energy that it had been credited with, and ho had a very favorable impression of ths capacity of the Waihopai.

Councillor Piks remarked that the Got ernmoni report quoted by Councillor Cooke estimated tho capacity of the Waihopai at no more than 3000 horse-power. He understood that a source with nothing less than 10,000 ho7\se-powcr was of any practicable vain-}. He was for co-oper-ating with Nelson and' investigating the l'esoui'ces of Lake R-otoiti.

Councillor Cooke expressed himself as keenly disappointed at the manner in which the Mayor had discouraged tli9 Waihopai proposition, in which he had much faith.

. Finally Councillor Cooke agreed to let the question go ha-ik to the Committee.