ELECTRIC LIGHT SCHEME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 8 April 1922, Page 4

ELECTRIC LIGHT SCHEME

SITE FOR POWER DEPUTATION TO HARBOUR BOARD SYMPATHETIC H EARING .ANOTHER SITE OFFERED Arising out of the decision of tllQ Nelson Harbour Board at the monthly meeting on Wednesday last not to grant the City Council a site near Victoria Road if or the purpose of erecting a power house for tho electric fight scheme, a deputation from the City Council, at the- invitation of the Board, waited on that body yesterday afternoon. Tire deputation consisted of the Mayor (Mr \V. Lock), Crs. Nightingale, Coltman, and the City Engineer (Mr J. G, Littlejohn). The Board’s decision not to grant the site, was made as the- result of a petition from residents of Victoria Road that a smoke audl noise nuisance would be created. The Mayor said he had been, rather surprised to learn that the Board had not agreed to the. site which tho Council wanted. The. site asked for, he understood, was, from an engineer’s point of view, the- host.on the frontage. It was. essential that the site should! he obtained at the Port, otherwise tho scheme would be. held up. The Government had approved of the proposed site- for a power house. There was no mure important • scheme, _ said tho Mayor, and no scheme which would do ■so much for the city, as tho electric light .scheme. In regard to the petition from residents against the site, ho had it on good authority that them ■ would he no smoke at all from the chimney stack, which would bo 150 ft in height. There would also be very little noise from the machinery. Wherever the. power-house was built, there would lie objection. If tho project was. held up it might prove almost fatal to the scheme. The. people bad been told that the scheme wouldl he ready' within 12 months, and it would'-bo ilb the work could be gone straight on with. It might be possible to obtain the site desired under the Public Works Act, but this would involve delay. He repeated that the powerhouse must be at the Port * the building would 1)0 a line one, and in no way an eyesore. The progress of tho city ho said, could not be stopped for the sake of a few people. CT. Coltman. said lie recognised that the residents were not complaining without reason, for the erection of power house would make that part cf the Port an industrial portion. But he did not think the smoko would cause much inconvenience. He was not pledged to any site, and if the Board gave an assurance that they would lease a site which would suit the Council as well as the other, he would be satisfied. t

Cr. Nightingale emphasised the remarks. of .the, previoius. speakers. They did. not w^ut-*,the scheme held up because of-any trifling objection. The Board, he, ,was sure, would 1 help the Council .as much as possible. But He understood that if any alteration was made in .the site, the Government’s approval would bo necessary, and the scheme might, be held Up indefinitely. The City Engineer said he had gone into the question with Mr Toogood, the Council’s advising .engineer, who 'had stated that it would be more costly if a. loss convenient site was obtained. As to the suggestion of Haulashore Island that was quit© out of the question. Apart from all other considerations, there was no foundation on the Island for the machinery. The chairman saidvhe was very glad to meet the deputation. The Board was in sympathy with the Council, and every member was anxious to see tho scheme carried through. He uader- , stood that Mr Toogood did not mind where the site w-as so long as it was on the waterfront. While accepting the statement that there would be no smoke nuisance, the -Board might ask the Council to indemnify the Board against any nuisance that might be created by smoke.’ - . - The Mayor-:• The Council would be responsible. The chairman said he had consulted the Board’s solicitors, and the opinion was given that the Board would be responsible.- The Board) would have to protect themselves, and ho did not think the Council would object to t-lus. The Board was quit© prepared to lease a site to the Ooitnclli > Mr. Jackson said lie had - seen the engines working a great many times, and practically no smoke came out of the chimney,stack.. The Board and the deputation then went to the waterfront and inspected •a site hnpiediately i jto the ..north' of the. Maitlhnd Choi. Storage works. Members of the deputation r- thought the site would be acsuitablo one, providing there were no difficulties in the way. *' ■

Tlie Mayor sa id Mr Toogoodi would be asked to. visit Nelson 1 and report on the .site.

On the Board resuming, the chairman said hb thought hothuig- further could be done until Mr Toogood’s report.was received . Mr Gould said ho had been told! that tlie opinion in the city was that the Board was hostile to the electric light scheme; This was quite contrary to fact, and every member of the Board had done his best to l get the proposal carried. The chairman agreed that the Board was anxious to see the wbrk proceed. , >