BEAUTIFUL NIAGARA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18643, 12 August 1930, Page 11

BEAUTIFUL NIAGARA.

NEW ZEALANDERS’ VISIT (By T.C.L.) No country in the world excels Canada in water power. At ordinary minimum stream flow it possesses no less than' 20,000,000 horse power, rising to more than 33,000,000, for at least six months in the year. The available storage basins raise this figure again to 43,000,000 horse power, and the development of Canada’s industries is founded in large measure upon the possession of this vast potentialtity. Twenty-five years ago Canada used only 450,000 horse power, 15 years ago it used 2,000,000 horse power and today it uses 5,500,000 horse power, or approximately one-eighth only of its available strength. To-day two-thirds of Canadian homes, rich and poor, rural and urban, are using electricity for lighting and domestic purposes. Altogether over £200,000,000 is invested in central electrical power plants. While in Toronto the New Zealand Press delegates were given the opportunity of seeing the greatest electricity plant of them all, indeed the greatest in the whole world, at Niagara Falls. It was a most interesting experience, enchanced by the perfect weather conditions that prevailed, and the drive of about 80 miles through the nearby country was more picturesque than any other the delegates had had in that vast country. Some of Toronto’s executive newspaper men accompanied the New Zealand delegation as guides, philosophers and friends. It was early spring, and as the party travelled through the country the members could not but be struck by its similarity in configuration and appearance to the Kentish country. The whole of the Niagara peninsula is of an easy, undulating nature, with a protecting lip that has its terminus at the Niagara Falls themselves. Thus protected from the prevailing winds the country is devoted to fruit and hop growing. The cherries and peaches were all in blossom, and for 20 miles the party passed through a perfect vista of continuous beauty. A stop was made at the Welland Canal, or rather the last canal of that name cut, for there have been two other canals in the vicinity connecting the lakes. Shipping is increasing rapidly. In 1877 it was 1,500,000 tons; to-day it is over 18,000,000. The new canal was necessary to deal with the increased traffic. The cost has been over 200,000,000 dollars. The locks and the whole system are very similar to Panama’s, but the canal is a few feet narrower. In half an hour the party arrived at the great Niagara Falls and saw for the first time what had been seen so much of in picture and story. The setting could not have been improved. The sky was cloudless and the air balmy. The ice had melted, and the falls were full of water hurtling down and causing a terrific, resounding noise that could be heard miles and miles away. The party was on the Canadian side and had the better view of the awe-inspiring spectacle. The American Falls are less impressive than the Canadian, and spoilt by the garish buildings and blatant posters and signs everywhere in evidence. The Canadians have wisely preserved the natural settings, even designing the power buildings to harmonise with the surroundings. A beautiful park has been created alongside the waters, with gardens and trees that give rest and pleasure to the eyes and mind, permitting the visitor the better to take in and appreciate the wondrous sights about him. The Niagara River itself is only 35 miles long. It joins Lake Eerie to Lake Ontario. The difference in elevation between the lakes is 246 feet. For the first 80 miles from Lake Eerie to the branch of the upper rapids the Niagara is a broad stream varying from about one half mile to one mile in width. The deepest branch above the rapids has a depth of 30 feet, and the fall of the river in the 20 miles stretch is only 10 feet. The drop of the upper rapids is about 55 feet in one mile. The Canadian Horseshoe Falls are 162 feet high and have a crest length of 2600 feet with a mean depth of water of 12 feet at the centre. The American Falls are 167 feet high and 1000 feet wide, with an average depth of about 1* feet. The international boundary passes over the Horseshoe Falls not far from Goat Island. It is estimated that about 95 per cent of the water flows over the Canadian Falls. The average discharge of the river is 210,000 feet per second, whilst the watershed covers an area of 260,000 square miles. The visitors were shown over the great power house of the Ontario Power Commission, the greatest hydropower house in the world. Here are nine mighty turbines with a total capacity of 502,000 horse power, but with a peak load appreciably higher. One of these great units will supply the average needs of a city of 200,000 people for electrical energy. A recent development provided for the enjoyment of visitors is the installation of a battery of brilliant searchlights which for about two hours in the evening are focussed on both American and Canadian Falls, brilliantly flooding them with an everchanging variety of colour. The party did not see the display, as time demanded an early return to Hamilton, there to pick up the train for Toronto. But there was sufficient time to pay a visit to a very beautiful home overlooking the Falls belonging to a gentleman who had spent some four years in New Zealand and had married a charming Australian girl. He is Mr Harry Okes, whose career is quite a fascinating one. He roamed the world looking for gold, and after the usual ups-and-downs (mostly downs), he alighted upon a deposit in northern Canada. It proved to be one of the richest in the world, and made him a millionaire. He is as modest and as approachable as he is rich, and extended a warm welcome to the delegation, as did his wife. His home is a unique one even for America and Canada. They tell a story regarding a Christmas gift of shares in his mine he made to his wife, of the then value of £10,000; to-day the market value is over £250,000.