Utilisation of Water Power.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 254, 31 October 1904, Page 4

Utilisation of Water Power.

GREAT PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT. In tho course of delivery 0 f his Public Works statement on Friday inght the Hon. HalKJonea said:—ln my last statement I alluded t 0 tte arrival in the colomv of Hr L M Hancock, M.A.ile.e'., and stated that he w a s then engaged in exam- I inmg some of the most likely sourc- ' es of power with a view to preparing a report thereon. Mr Hancock I spent eighty-two days in the colony. 1 !He was fully occupied acquiring j~aformation during; the whole time, a nd 1 consequently' had to defer writing his report until his return to America. Ihe report was received in duo course | but it seemed to require amendment in some respects. Mr Hancock was communicated with on the subject before submitting the report to Parliament, so that the alterations found necessary therein might be duly made before publication. I expected a reply by the mail that reached here on Sept. 22, but as no communication came to hand, probably MiHancock was away from San Francisco when my letter arrived there. Mr Haincock'a report does not perhaps go into details to the extent that soime hon. members might desire, but it cfoarly shows that there are vast possiLu liliwa ahead of us in the matter of utilisation of our enormous water powers, which evidently are amongst tho colony's greatest natural resources. As a more detailed report seemed desirable lo that the country might be apprised of the enormous energy awaiting thie application of intelligence and capital to turn it into a great Source of national wealth much further information has been collected s:nce Mr Hancock's departure, and furthermore a detailed 'report om the subject has been prepared by Mr P. S. Hay, M.A.M.1.C.E., the superintend-, ing engineer 0 f the Public Work® Department. Mir Hay accompanied Mr Hancock (during his tour through the colony, and constantly conferred with him on the subject of our waterpowers. He has in addition given the subject much personal study. His report, which has now been placed in the hands oi hon. members, contains a mass of information- of great value, and will convince the most sceptical of the great future that is before this colony as tho manufacturing centre of the Pacific, The power shown to be available is so enormous, and c a n be developed at such a low cost per horsepower, that manufactures and industries at present urethought of ia New Zealand must before long be established and the products shipped hence to all parts of Australia and the Pacific; coasts as well as m o re distant lands, So many great and potential schemes lit ready to otw hand |haf wb am embarrassed .by their number and Variety, and it therefore, becomes, B matter of difficulty to determine where to begin in the matter 0 f their utilisation, Mr Hay shows that the schemes on which he has reported would develope energy equal to 3,700,000 horse power, about _thirty .times the amount of power now used in the colony ioi: tractive and industrial purposes, and considerably in excess of the total fixed steam power used in the United Kingdom up to 1888, the date of the latest industrial statistics available! at the moment. The great bulk 0 f power la in the South Islan.l, but there is sufficient available in the North Island to meet -all present requirements, and to provide for considerable future development. The expenditure involved in converting all this -waSta energy into useful industrial power would, as might be expected, run Into millions, It is estunatod tib&t the cost of schemes sufficient to displace all tho steam, gas and other plants ait present in use in the colony, a 8 well as to provide for the running of all railways electrically would amount to £13,000,000, The information so far obtained, however, though extensive and valuable, is by no means complete, and the reports presented, though able and interesting, by no means are exhaustive. Much'further inquiry remains to be m a de, and further attention will be devoted to the matter with a view of definite proposals being submitted'to Parliament,