HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17429, 26 March 1920, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

TE AWAMUTU BOARD.

IMPORTANT LEGAL POINT. [BY TELEGRAPH— OOKBESPONDENT 1

TE AWAMUTU. Thursday. At a meeting of the Te Awamutu Power Board the chairman, Mr. J. T. Johnson, presided.

The engineer's report stated that there

was every indication that the license and the Order-in-Conncil enabling the board to carry out the reticulation of its district would be issued next week. There had been a certain amount of difficulty arising from section 49 of the Power Board's Act, which stipulates that a book of reference must be drawn up preparatory to the issue of a license in respect to all private lands to be crossed by the reticulation. The point at issue was whether this applied only to main transmission lines or to ordinary low-voltage reticulation as well. It was a simple matter if applying only to main transmission, but if every mile of ordinary transmission had to be shown it would considerably hamper and delay the boards. The question had been referred to the Crown law officers for a ruling, and the point at issue was a very important one. The chairman reported an interview with the Minister for Public Works in relation to finance. It was decided to issue authority to the engineer to order for early delivery £8000 worth of material. This is the first transaction to be concluded for reticulation in jhe Waikato. The chairman was deputed to proceed to Wellington to meet the Minister for Public Works in further reference to power supply and loan matters. Out of 45 applications for the position of secretary-manager, Mr. D. Bockett, town clerk of Te Awamutu, was appointed to the potation.

WANQAinn PROPOSALS.

NOVEL SCHEME IN VIEW. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION. WANGANUI. Thursday. As a result of a conference with the consulting engineer, Mr. S. Irwin Crookes, the Wanganui Borough Council has decided to secure all the necessary data ,in regard to the early development of hydroelectric power from the source bf the Wangaehu River. It has been ascertained that by a dam on the river 6000 horsepower can be secured. The scheme provides for a submerged power station in the dam, which is the first of its kind in the British Empire.