THE WAIRUA FALLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14336, 5 April 1910, Page 6

THE WAIRUA FALLS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Whangarei, Monday. The harnessing of the WairuaFalls formed the subject of a deputation from the Whangarei Borough Council to Mr.- McKenzie this afternoon.

Mr. T. McClintock, Mayor of Whanga-. rei, in urging the Government to take over the falls, said he understood the natives had rights over them. When, some years ago, the Whangarei County Council endeavoured to secure them, the natives refused to part with their interests. If the Government secured the control of the falls for electrical purposes, they would, instead of lying idle, be available for several things in the district, and, besides, become a valuable revenue producer.' . Mr. W. A. Carruth also urped ih.» utilisation of the falls fos electrical purposes. Mr. R. Y. Kernohan hoped that the rivalry that existed between Dargavilleand Whangarei over the falls would not weigh with the Government in taking the scheme into consideration. ~ •.-.. ;• The Minister, in reply gave it as his opinion that the falls contained sufficient water to generate power both for Dargaville and Whangarei. Nothing, however, could be done in the matter till Parliament authorised, the expenditure of the money required. There was about two million horse-power in New Zealand, and it was going to have a big influence on the country. •