THE HUKA FALLS SCHEME.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume VII, Issue 275, 26 September 1896, Page 3

THE HUKA FALLS SCHEME.

Commenting on Mr J. 0. Firth's scheme to generate the power from the Huka Falls, in the Waikato river, and transmit it thence to the Hauraki goldfields, the Thames Star says:— " Fii st let us glance at the practicability of the undertaking, which seems to be-^in some quarters at leastheld in doubt. The Auckland Star seems, dubious as to whether the power can be transmitted such a long distance, and remarks : ' The Niagara works only supply electric power within a radius of 25 miles from the Falls,' while Te Aroha, the noarest point of the goldfields to the Huka, is 80 miles as the crow flies.' ' <■ In conversation with Mr Firth on the subject, that, gentleman assures us that the Star is wrong in its information. The Niagara company has succeeded in transmitting power from the Niagara Falls to New JTork, a distance of 400 miles, and found no difficulty in doing so. It this can be done in America, why not in New Zealand ? Furthermore, Mr Firth informs us :that the country and general circumstances here are much more favourable than on the Niagara-New^ York route, and he is confident that the, power running to waste at the Huka Falls could be transmitted to any portion of the North Island! And Professor Forbes, probably the highest authority in the world on this subject, fully concurs. The . Professor, Mr Firth tells us, came to South Africa at the invitation of Cecil Rhodes, whose practical intellect misses nothing of value, and the object of his coming was to report on the possibility q? transmitting power from, the Victoria Falls to the Band goldfields. The Victoria Falls are> situated on the Zambesi rivrr, and are the largest falls in the world—one mile broad, with a drop of 400 feet. Niagara, with its breadth of 1800 feet and drop of 160 feet, is almost insignificant beside this. The Victoria Falls are distant 500 miles from Hand. Think what a wonderful triumph this might have been 1 for science—the power generated by the largest falls in ' the world harnessed lip, converted into electricity, and conveyed 500 miles' to work reduction plants. One most important thing, however, which the press in general seems to have ignored is the period which will be required for the construction of the necessary works. The very first press notice which appeared stated that the construction would occupy five years! Now it turns put that that statenieni was not authentic. Mr Firth himself guarantees that the work can be completed within two years ; so that, allowing for the usual slow rate at which mining companies get really to work' it is reasonable to suppose that power will be flowing from the Waikato in time to meet the demands of a number of the companies just hatched, or at any rate of a number of those which are in process of incubation, This is a distinct point scored for Mr Firth's scheme, and justifies his-^lea that no delay should take place. Another strong argument for ■ the "Waikato scheme is the fact that our forests are rapiply disappearing, and the Government seems to be taking no steps in the direction of forest conservation or re-planting. We understand that evidence was given before the Warden that the WaiM Company alone was cutting from five to seven acres daily, for consumption for fuel! If this decimation of our hill-sides continues, we shall before long witness our rivers shrinking into tiny rivulets, The Waikato, however, is not dependent on these influences, and may" be regarded as permanent, In conclusion, we may state that everyone interested in the welfare of these goldfields would like to see the scheme .carried to a successful conclusion. It must be borne in mind that Mr Firth only asks the Legislature to pass a general Act'authorising any person to apply for the necessary concessions—those concessions to take the form of sole rights for a period of, say, 50 years. If the Government find themselves unable to do any thing with the schemes advanced by Mr Firth they, can at least pass some such measure before the session closes. If the State cannot find the money, and Mr Firth can, then by all means let him have the necessary powers to give hig scheme a fair, trial."