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Otago Daily Times, Issue 13890, 30 April 1907, Page 4

THE WAIPOItT HARNESSED. Ox October 8, WW, (ho Dunodin City Council passed a resolution which, if it lias been the origin of a deal 0 f civic discussion, criticism, and dispute, lias also, we trust, been the origin of an important municipal euterpriso which tiiis city will never have occasion to regret. The resolution referred to embodied the Council's decision to pur- ■ case tile rights and undertakings of the Waipori Falls Electric Power Comlun}'. *\ow, after an interval of over two years and a-half, during which a work of magnitudes Ims been steadily proceeded with, the process of harnessing the Waipori to our tramway system has bqgn completed, and Mr Lawrence, before subsiding into private life, has been able to add to his achievements as Mayor of the city by performing that interesting operation known as '• turning on the power." We trust that yesterday's little function at Waipori was a happy augury for the future and that henceforth tho Waipori power scheme will be able to justify , its existonce, to give a good account of itself as a sound commercial enterprise, and to stultify pessimistic prophecies concerning it. However, nothing in regard to th:s scheme : has been more marked than the diversity of opinion expressed in regard to it even among those i who have had tho best opportunities of being correctly informed. Of two candidates for the mayoralty heard by the ratepayers the other day the one said "it was no nse disguising tho fact that tho Waipori scheme was a miserable failure and it would' bo a never-ending source of trouble ami heavy cost to the people of Dtincdin," while the other, who is now Mayor-elect, expressed his belief that in a few years the scheme would prove a valuable asset to the city. So much, in fact, has been said and written about the merits and demerits of this enterprise that the ordinary citizen, however intelligent, may well be pardoned if he reserves judgment. Engineers' reports are a rather disturbing factor than otherwise, as each one is likely to introduce some new aspect of the situation that may be magnified into a cause for apprehension. The undertaking has been a costly one. Admittedly there is a considerable difference between an estimate of a- cost of £80,000 to-bring in 4000 horse-power to Dunediir from Waipori aud one of £210,000 to bring in half that amount. Doubts have been raised as to the ability of the liydro-eloctrio 1 works to supply the power calculated upon, and as to the probable success of the undertaking from a financial standpoint. As to discouraging calculations on tho capacity of the present scheme to develop energy, as we previously pointed out, they have been based on a shrinkago of the How of water in the river during the past season, such as was quite exceptional, and such conditions should scarcely be experienced again till long after the demand of the public for electricity for use in one way or another has led tho Council to extend its hydroelectric works. As to the ultimate prospects of tho enterprise, heavy though the capitalisation may be, electric power lias such a value I as a • factor in tho successful conduct of industries that the community need scarcely be apprehensive as to these. The ratepayer, however, who is so sanguine as to imagine that from the inception of the enterprise as a practical business concern the Corporation will obtain sjich a return from the sales of power as, will meet the charges upon the cost of the scheme will no doubt be seriously disappointed. As Air Goodman' took occasion to remark at the recent trial operations at the converter station, the scheme, if it is to realise expectations, must be properly managed, otherwise it will degenerate into a mero white elephant. The success of the scheme viewed as an engineering undertaking has already received practical demonstration, and the only question that can now interfere with the permanent running of the trams by virtue of tho power from Waipori is apparently that of a final settlement between the City Council and the Taieri County Council, in regard to \vhich it seems likely there will he no further difficulty. It is highly satisfactory to'see the Waipori hydroelectric power installation at length in actual operation and in a fair way to earn some return for the expenditure il has entailed. The city is to be congratulated on its enterprise in this matter, and its experience will doubtless be watched with interest from beyond ' a merely local standpoint. The Acting Prime .Minister is not rash-in his statements as a rule, but he evidently i<j keenly alive to the possibilities of tho future in tho development of hydraelectricity in this country, judging l>y his congratulatory message to the Mayor. As to the steam plant, by ■means of which the tram? have been run successfully hitherto, that is now to go out of commission, which is well from the point of view of economy, we trust, though it inspires confidence 'perto hear from Mr Goodman that "it is deemed prudent to keep it not only as a, stand-by but to assist in the

s?cut of a peak load should the demand exceed tiie capacity of tlio hydio-elcctrie Rcliomo, As to the creditable manner iii which Messrs Xoyo.s Bros. have brought a difficult scheme to completion and the ability bestowed by Mr Goodman upon his personal oversight of it, it is unnecessary for us to add anything to what lias already been well said.