HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16679, 28 February 1920, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

THE ARAPAWA SCHEME.

Putaruru, hitherto a small settlement on the railway between Hamilton and Rotorua, has of late been the ecepe of unusual commercial activity. Tho township, with its post office, stores, and accommodation houses, is like many other townships in the Dominion. Yet within the last few months, even weeks, the prices demanded for sections in tho township have been equivalent to £2o per foot of frontage. _ Needless to say, this figure is exceptionally high for such a locality, and the causes governing the increase in values are also exceptional. ■

HYDRO-ELECTRICAL SCHEME,

The main reason for the rise in values is the construction of the huge hydro-electrical works at Arapuni, nine miles from, Putaruru (says a Napier Telegraph reporter, who recently spent a holiday in the ’district). When fully developed this power-house is expected to supply sufficient current for the use of the whole of the Auckland and Taranaki provinces. To produce this current, ten generators will be installed, each one as powerful as all those employed at Lake Coleridge to supply Christchurch and North Canterbury. The sum of £4,500,000 was put on the Estimates last session far the work, which will occupy three; years and provide employment for over 500 men. The work has now been in progress for seven months, the workmen being engaged in tunnelling, one such tunnel reaching under the river. The latter is to be dammed, and its waters will form a lake 23 miles long, which will no doubt be popular in the future, as a yachting ground and pleasure resort. Sixty-five thousand tons of cement are to be used in the work, which will be second only to Niagara walks in magnitude. Owing to the quantity of material to be used during construction, and the fact that the weight of some of the machinery will prevent its being carried by _road ; a railway is to be built. Until this is completed it will not he possible to speed up the work. TE AWAMUTU—PUTARURU RAILWAY. The .railway will be between Putaruru on the Rotorua line, and'Tc Awanmtu on the Main Trunk, and will bring Rotonfflf 30' miles nearer all places south of Te Awamutu. A* present the visitors to Rotorua change trains at Hamilton.

On February 8 will take place the election of directors for a Railway Board as required under the recently enacted Railway Act. It is premised to let two separate contracts for the railway, each of 15 the work to he commenced at each terminus. As the surveyed route is very level it is hoped to build the railway quickly and inexpensively. * LAND EAGERLY SOUGHT; It is undoubtedly the construction of the hydro-eleotnc station and the accompanying necessary railway that has attracted land buyers from all parts of New Zealand, with the result that land once isolated and neglected is now being eagerly sought after. Prominent farmers from Canterbury, the Wairarapa, and Hawke’s Bay have invested money in large blocks of land during tho last few years and more buyers arrive each month.