POWER BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 18 July 1925, Page 6

POWER BOARD

SUGGESTED FORMATION IN NELSON At the. City Council meeting last evening the Motueka Borough Council forwarded ;i letter received from Mr L. F. Kissel, chief electrical engineer Public Works Department, Wellington, making certain suggestions as to the setting up of a power board for the district. The letter was as follows : 'I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 11th, inquiring as to the likelihood of a hydro-electric scheme being started from Lake Rotoroa, and in reply have to advise that the prospect of a scheme being started at Rotoroa or elsewhere in the Nelson district is dependent on the load that could be obtained for such a scheme when once, started. The Department would require before embarking on any scheme to have guarantees of load within the first few years of completion to ensure that the development would pay reasonable capital and operating charges on the investment. At the present time I cannot see this load in sight, but I would suggest that the various local authorities interested get together and see whether, if by combining as proposed to form a Nelson Power Board, they could guarantee tile Department sufficient load and revenue to warrant the commencement of tiie scheme.” 1 lie l'tiwn Clerk, Motueka, sent the following letter:— “1 he suggestion that the local bodies interested gel together and consider Lie formation of a Power Board lias the support of the Motueka Borough Council. and it is hoped that other local bodies interested will agree that a meeting be held, say at Nelson, or some' suitable place to discuss the matter.' If such meeting thought it advisable a Power Boaril could be formed to go fully into the matter of a lead to warrant a guarantee of sufficient revenue to commence t.ie scheme.’' -Mr C. A. Henderson, chief electrical engineer for the Nelson ('it'- Council, ci'iiim; iite.l its h.liows on iTio letter: "With reference to the letter from the .Motueka Borough Council on the question ot tunning a Power Board, as it is certain a Power Board will be formed sometime, the question should be very carefully considered, and as 1 will be in . cllingtnn at the beginning of August attending the Supply Authorities Conference, 1 suggest that you instruct me to discuss the question with Air Kissel, Public Works chief electrical engineer, alter which 1 would be able to give you inhumation not now available.” ILe Mayor said lie did not consider 'Re tune opportune to form a. Power Board at present. Those that were Urmed were not giving satisfaction, l ucre was no necessity for a Beard in Nelson for a long time to come. Cr. Watson considered if there was a chance of bringing about hydro-electric fi".wcr. til! information should be obtained. i r. Gibbs moved that tile electrical engineer make inquiries as suggested in It's letter. Seconded by Cr. Watson ami carried. f r. Harley wished to make it clear Rat ho was not in favour of a Power Ivuid under the present conditions.