POWER FOR CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3864, 3 April 1928, Page 75

POWER FOR CENTRAL OTAGO.

A FAVOURABLE MEETING. x^rn mectin . K of settlers was held at Middlemarch on Wednesday night to discuss with the representatives of the Otago Electric lower Board the proposal to extend electric power to Strath-Taieri and surrounding districts. The following representatives of/ the Power Board were present:—Mr Driver (chairman), Mr ? T oyd L chairm an of Works Committee), i a Y, ay J, chairruan of Finance Committee), Mr P. Briscoe, and Mr J. C Collins (engineer-manager). The Taieri ffirn rt Was Resented by Cr Thomas Carruthers and Mr John Williamson. 100 ,adies and men present from Middlemarch and surrounding districts. Mr Carruthers presided. Driver addressed the meeting on the benefits of the scheme. Mr Collins detailed the arrangements leading up to the calling of the meeting, which are briefly contained in the followmg: ■ •J he ~o f . generating, transinitting, and distributing electric power in MiJAi Palt tV e j tra L 9 ta S°» including NnS lemareb - Hyde, Kokonga, Ranfurly, Naseby, and Wedderburn had been given careful attention and consideration, and the following conclusions had been arrived at:—(1) That provided sufficient guarantees were forthcoming such an undertaking could reasonably be executed by the Otago Power Board. (2) The capital required for such a venture would closely approximate £60,000. (3) Guarantees of revenue for approximately £BOOO per annum would be required from the district, which comprised about 500 to 600 (4) That the district con- ? c nee d to become part of the boards inner aera ” for the purpose of raising the required loan. (5) No 4 would necessitate the circulation of a petition, and it was proposed that such a petition should be circulated by the board, and guarantees of revenue obtained at the same time. (5) That an essential feature tor the success of such a scheme hLo’ V s lnt , e , nded to be was speed, because it would be necessary that all construction work at the head works and power house should be completed before the dry season ended. t k' >OCn ascertained from sufvevs hat Lowborn would be the best site fir the power house and dam, and the fall from % t 0 tne P?"? :r house would be I7IWI it ?-°V ld be . , able to generate J‘’Ow volts, which would be transformed tor both lighting and cooking purposes. Calloway assured the meeting that the cost would not exceed Mr Collins’ ngnres. Mr Bovd endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers. A number of questions were then asked and answered as follows: — Mr E Messent asked if the boundaries of the district to find £B3OO per annum ■.ad been defined? The answer was in the negative; but the area would be from rnitton to Rock and Pillar and about eight miles across the plain. Mr W. D. Mason asked, in regard to the rate being struck, would the district be as good as Chi th a. The reply was that it would be much better. . Mr T. Ross asked what would the position be in the event of a resident objecting to use the power, and would he be liable for rates? The reply was in the affirmative, provided that the rate was required in the inner area. Mr A. M‘Kinnon,jun., asked: “Would, the Power Board bring the power up the road to the nearest point to the resident, who would require it?” The answer was that it depended on the. revenue which would bo derived. The best paying lines would be installed first, and eventually all those in the inner area would also be linked up. Mr Wise asked whether, in the event of 400 consumers taking the power, would the power station supply all the power required '> The answer was that provision would be made as the demand grew. Mr T. Ross: Would the canvasser be able to supply the cost of running shearing machines, pumps, etc? ”•—lt was stated that the canvasser would call on all residents and give them as near as possible tne estimated cost of bringing the power to their homes, and also the cost of installing the lighting Mr George Howell asked whether the £60,060 would pay for the water rights. The reply was that there would be no difficulty with water rights. The Chairman asked for a show of hands on the proposal, and Messrs Gordon Horn and W. S. Williams were appointed to count the votes. The vote was unanimous in favour of the proposal. Votes of thanks were passed to the members of the Power Board, the engineer, and the chairman.