POWER FOR WELLINGTON.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15447, 16 February 1921, Page 6

POWER FOR WELLINGTON.

CLARENCE RIVER SCHEME SUGGESTED. BLENHEIM, Feb. 7.—The question of hydro-electric power is a very Uvo one in Marlborough, where everything is now in readiness for the formation of an electric power board. Some delay is being caused, however, by the slowness of Nelson in having the necessary petitions completed in accordance with the Act. Marlborough is in honor bound to wait till this is clone, and until the Government survey of Lakes Rotoroa and Rotoiti are made, as tho original project was for a combined scheme. When this is done it will be decided whether the two provinces shall adopt a combined scheme or individual schemes from sources close at hand. A scheme which is considered to be as good as any in New Zealand has recently been investigated on the Clarence river at a point about 15 miles from its mouth, and between three and four miles from the coast, at a place called The Shades. There nature has provided facilities which would enable a hydro-electric plant to be put in at a minimum of cost, while the power-house itself would be on the main road 40 miles from Blenheim, in a direct line. Seventeen years ago the late Mr. P. S. Hay, then superintendent engineer of the Public Works Department, reported on this scheme. He said: "A fourth scheme (on the Clarence) provided for tunnelling between the sea and the river, -where the latter flows parallel with the coast near its mouth. From this a fall of 400 ft. or more would ba ivailablo." This place was recently inspected by the Progress Committee, and a civil engineer, and at last night's meeting of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce the engineer, Mr. W 7 ells Newton, explained the situation from a hydro-electric point of view. To develop 2000 horse-power, which would be Ma rl borough's needs at the outset, would cost, roughly, £60,000 for the headworks, £30,000 for plant, and £60,C00 to carry the current to Blenheim, a total of £150.000. I'p to 25,009 horse-power could be developed. wit h ease, and if the whole river were taken, some 90,000 horse-power. The. question was raised as to whether this source of power, so near to Wellington, could not be utilised for that city by carrying a cable across the Strait. The total distance would be approximately 54 miles. Mr. J. J. Corry mentioned that the whole of the electric power for Denmark came from Sweden, and the wires were laid for scores of miles under the sea. Lately a plan had been mooted to carry power in the same way from Norway to England. Mr. Will Lawson said he had heard the idea referred to in Wellington of obtaining hydro-electric power from the Clarence instead of bringing it hundreds of miles from Waikaremoana. It was elecided to send the organiser to Nelson to ascertain the position there in regard to the joint Marlborough-Nel-son scheme, and say that unless this could be put, into operation soon Marlborough would (ro ahead and form her own power board, with the view of getting power from the Clarence river.