WATER POWER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4700, 29 November 1913, Page 7

WATER POWER.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I noticed in the Herald that the Borough Council intends lighting Pahiatua with electricity. A very wise move, indeed. Would it not he advisable for the borough to wait a little while? My reasons are these: Pahiatua already has light. As the Lake Coleridge scheme in the South will be completed in nine months’ time (according to official information), the prospects are that should the scheme pay (experts say it will) the Government will harness one or two waterfallsi n the North Island, say, Makuri and Waikaremoana, thereby getting cheap power and light for the working man and farmer. It will also spare the expense of erecting plant, engineers’ salaries, etc-. 1 have lived in Buffalo, 26 miles from Niagara. The working man there is able to heat his hath water at a cost of 5 cents per unit used. No other power can possibly generate electricity so cheaply as water. Why should not the local bodies unite and harness Makuri themselves? Failing that, why not ask the Government to do it? The local bodies of three small towns in the North have agreed to harness the Hunua falls. Why not here, as we are fortunately situated, close to such magnificent waterfalls as Makuri ? The harnessing of Makuri would give everyone the possibility of obtaining cheap power and lighting, and revolutionise the Pahiatua district, both from commercial and agricultural points of view. Trusting that the Mayor and councillors will look into this, — i am. etc., PRO BONO PUBLIOO.