UTILISATION OF WATER POWER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13893, 3 May 1907, Page 5

UTILISATION OF WATER POWER.

STATEMENT BY THE ACTIXG PRIME MINISTKII. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) CHRISTOHUROH, May 2. Speaking to a Chrislcbnrcli Press representative this evening in Timaru, the Hon. \V. Hall-Jones said (he Government had found that the cost of carrying out a general scheme for tho utilisation of water-power for generating electricity for use in the'various centres in the colony was so great that no satisfactory system could be'earried out without a special loan being first authorised for the purpose. Tho ordinary revenue of the colony could not bear such an enormous expenditure as would be involved. A work of such magnitude could not bo dealt with piecemeal. It would have to be carried out thoroughly when started) and lie made reproductive within as. short a time as possible. The (iovomment had not drawn largely on the vote of £53.000 taken for this purpose last session. All information in Iho way of surveys, and cost of plant was now in the possession of the Government. HARNKSSIXC! THK WAIMAKARIRI. (Per TJkited Press Association.) CHRISTCIIURCH, May 2. In connection with the proposal to adopt tho Waimakariii scheme in order to increase the electrical power of tho city, Mr Dobson, city surveyor, has made'a calculation as to the return which tho city will reap from it, He is certain that even with half the power proposed, and charging Id per unit for power and 2d per unit for light, the city will make sufficient protit to enable it to be rate free. This could bo done, Mr Dobson calculates, after paying the interest on the cost of tho works and the maintenance and interest on the cost of distribution.