VISIT OF MR. L. BIRKS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14936, 14 June 1919, Page 3

VISIT OF MR. L. BIRKS.

Mr. L. Birks, Government chief elec trical engineer, who arrived from South yesterday, paid -a- visit to Waikohu and inspected the site of, the proposed hydroelectric scheme for Gisborne.

Mr. Birks' visit is of, a departmental nature, and it is understood is for the purpose of advising the Minister of Public Works respecting the application for. a license to which Sir William Fraser expressed himself favorably when m Gisborne recently. This morning a number of % local citizens interested m hydro-electric develop ment were afforded the opportunity of meeting Mr. Birks unofficially at the Gisborne Engineering Company's pre mises, Customhouse street, when some valuable information respecting the development of hydro-electric power m the South Island was obtained. •►

In the course of an. informal discussion, Mr. ,Birks explained the great advantages obtaining m the use of hydroelectric current m connection with Ihe dairying industry m Canterbury. Another important feature which " he ex olained was that the current could be distributed across country to farm home ?teads by means of the ordinary No. £ galvanised fencing wire, using .32ft 'ronbark poles. He stated that with ? line of two wires current could be transmitted a distance of from 10 to 20 mile? by means of fencing -wire. There were many mileß of these lines m the- South TKe' cost of construction of these lineF was fairly .low compared with thf usual cost of erection of electric lines, and he estimated that for about £48 p year a farmer was able to get curven< Tor his milking machine, fireiwood cutting, shearing, heating water at nii?ht. -lip-lit-■nir of his house, most of his cooking, and a fair number of radiators. fK course, if farmers clubbed together thp oost of erection, of the line was lessened her farm. The current was charged at a fixed rate of co much pej". month, and at night time there was too jiiriit to the amount of current they used (the maximum load of the service 1 being m the day time), the consumer being, m fact, encouraged to make a liberal use of the current.

Questioned with regard to the safety of these lines, he said that there war an automatic cut-off when any line fell to the ground, and consequently there was no danger of a live line lyiiMr on the ground. Apart from aluminium wire, which was not recommended for general reticulation, there had been no iceidents m. Canterbury owing to copner or iron wires falling. Several present expressed great surnrise at the utility and low cost of $vcY conveniences, and the marked saving that would be effected to farmers w'thin a radius; ..of the distributing lines.

Various .questions were asked respect 7 the utilisation of current m conriectihn with the freezing industry, • arid Mr. Birks explained that there were three works connected to the Canterbury system, and there would soon be a f mirth. He detailed the basis upon which current was taken, stating that the revenue derived from this source averaged out about £1 per horse powei* per month. .

Regarding the local scheme. Mvl TVvVp said it was outside his province to critic'se or discuss the same, but he was? mvte prepared to certify to Mr.. Kav's iibflity as an engineer. Whilst not undertaking any .responsibility m connection with the .scheme, his Department would, of course, offer the cnrri- 1 neer advice on any point that might crop up. . The question of the price of coal was also discussed. It -was pointed out that there would be a- marked saving m this connection. Mr. Birks stated that tlip pre-war price of coal was £1 per ton but they had paid as much as £2 15? for imported coal. On. this heading, it was pointed out by Mr. O. A. de J>.utour that coal was costing locally over £3 a ton. On the question of fuel consumption Mr 0. J. McCarthy pointed out thai f reezing- could be effected at a lower • lost m the South Island, owing to the fact that freezing was m- progress therm i.t this time of the year, while killinc operations were carried on m this district throughout the summer months. Mr Birks remarked that labor and security were other big "prongs" of the oroposition. Other important aspects of v the question were discussed, and the plans prepared by Mr F. C. Hay, consulting engineer, were submitted for perusal. Speaking to a Herald representative -übsequently, Mr Birks said: that t\v>. 'upply of cheap current for farm usf opened up a big sphere " of usefulness because farm life must be made attractive to young folk if .the country wa« ■»oing to be settled and' developed" as it should be. Indicating the condition-; inder which current is supplied m tho "•ountry districts of Canterbury, he said 'hat on a cold ' winter mornine, with, a , Me herd of cows to milk before dnyifjht, ypung folk were naturally disin'■l hied to turn out. andi it was obviously Toinw to make a great difference if thY vhole hoaise was flooded with iHght. if t 'here was a- radiator m the bed rooms md bath rooms, and the kettle wa'» ( '"-oiliiijT while they were dressing, instead having to- grope about with ji candle [ md to go Avithout a. cup of tea, because ; t was too much bother to light the\fire. 'jfoino- down 'to the milking shed it would make all the difference m the ■ world if the men found 20 gallons of boiling water heated over-night, the , building illuminated by electric lurht, , and the milking ! machinery put .into operation by the turning on of a- switch. Subsequently Mr Birks paid a visit to the Gisborne Sheepfarmers' Frozen Meat Co's works, and this afternoon In conferred with Mr Buswell, Borough Electrical Engineer. The visitor returns South Iv the -to-morrow; evening.