LAKE COLERIDGE

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 8

LAKE COLERIDGE

OHRISTCHURCH'S POWER ENDANGERED. ! (Feom Oob Own CoasESPONDENT.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 1. As the whole success of the hydro-electric scheme on which Christchurch and the surrounding districts rely largely for light and pow«r depends upon there being no' pronounced drop in the level of Lake Coleridge, some anxiety has been created by the Christchurch Sun's statement that the lake at present is so low that there are only 18 inches of water immediately in front of tho intake of the tunnel leading to the pipe lines. If the lake continues to fall at the rate it has fallen during and since December it will not be long before trouble occurs according to the men at tha lake, unless active measures are taken to blast away a considerable portion of the rock bed stretching from the intake. The levisl of Lake Coleridge ' which is largely snow fed, has fluctuated, but the present position is abnormal, and it is a question whether the steady withdrawal of water through the intake for power purposes is not contributing to a much lower surface leviel in dry periods than existed formerly. It is recognised by the Public Works Department that something will have to be done to increase the flow of water into the lake. It is intended to divert as muoh of the flow of the Harper River as ia needed. When this is done there should be little danger of any big drop in the level of the lake, but this work could not be completed in time to meet any aggravation of the present position.