WASTED WATER POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16670, 15 October 1917, Page 4

WASTED WATER POWER

THE ARAPUNI RAPIDS. INITIAL WORK ADVOCATED. by TEIEOBAPH.-SPBOIAI, COBBBSPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Saturday._ During the discussion on the Public Works Estimates Mr. J. A. Young (Wukato) referred to the report of the chief electrical engineer, Mr. Parr/, in regard to the Arapuni rapids, on the Waikato River, to the south of Horahora, where, Mr Parry had declared, a force capable of producing 120,000 horse-power was going to waste. Mr. Young said he did not urge the immediate construction of the power works and plant as it wouldl mean making financial provision for but he did ask that the setoff should be transferred to the Auckland district, in order to survey a route for the trunk power transmission line from Waikato to Auckland, via such towns as Cambridge, Hamilton, Ngaruawahia, Huntly, and Pukekohe, which would all be glad to purchase current from the Government. , Mr. Parry had reported that one objection to this scheme was that while the full development would be an exceptionally economical one, the initial cost of the large hydraulic works renuired would make it unduly expensive for partial development under 40,000 horse-power, but if it could be found that within a reasonable time there was a prospective market for this amount the development of the scheme could be justified on an economical basis. Mr. Young declared that with the tre- < mendous industrial growth o? the Province and City of Auckland, the markets for cheap electrical power v.-ould, in a brief tiroes absorb the 40,000 horse-power. I ■