THE WAIMAK SCHEME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17120, 16 August 1923, Page 7

THE WAIMAK SCHEME.

EXPLAINED BY CITY OFFICERS. An address on tho proposed Waimakariri poAver scheme was to have been given by Mr E. Hitchcock, general manager of the Christchurch City Council’s electricity department, at the half-yearly meeting of the Canterbury Industrial Association last night-, but, being absent in Wellington on business connected with the Bill dealing with the subject, his place was taken by Mr J. Lythgoe, Christchurch city electrical engineer, and Mr J. C. Forsyth, city assistant electrical engineer.

The president, in introducing Mr Lythgoe, said that manufacturers had wiped out the whole of their steam plants when current was made available from Lake Coleridge. It was just as well that they should have an extra source of supply, because Canterbury was developing week by week, and at no distant date would become the industrial centre of New Zealand. (Applause.) The relationship of the West Coast and Christchurch Avas mentioned by Mr Lythgoe, who said that whatever affected Christchurch also affected the West Coast, and any benefits from the Waimakariri scheme would have a bearing on the prosperity not only of Canterbury and Christchurch, but also on the* prosperity of the West Coast. At present the capacity of the Lake Coleridge power station was 12,0CX) k. AA r ., and the load had been as high as 10,500 k.w., leaving a margin of 1500 kw, so that the margin for future demands in Christchurch was not very great The authority of Parliament was being sought by the City Council for the necessary loan to carry out the Waimakariri scheme, and as early as possible the complete proposals would be submitted to the ratepayers. The question of cost to the consumer was a most important consideration. Christchurch had been blessed with cheap rates for electricity, and it was the endeavour of the electricity department to do its utmost to supply electricity at even cheaper rates than at present. This would bo possible only by the projected Waimakariri scheme being put forward and completed. It should ahvays be borne in mind that tho city’s* electricity department had saved thousands of pounds by supplying electric current at a cheap rate and by saving the cost of coal. If the city went ahead as it ought to. Lake Coleridge would hardly be sufficient to meet the demands. As time Avent on there would be an ever increasing necessity for the city to possess an independent power supply.

Lantern slides, illustrating the Winnipeg power scheme, were shown, Mr Lythgoe stating that Messrs Hawley and Co.’s engineer had folloAA r ed the same process as the Canadian# in his purvey of the Waimakariri. The necessity for- Christchurch having ample power was evidenced by the fact that, right up to the present, any industrial concern seeking cheap power could not get it. The outstanding features of the Waimakariri scheme were explained by Mr Forsyth, his remarks being illustrated w'ith lantern slides. These included much larger installations, similar in character to tho Waimakariri project, earned out by Hawley and Co. Commenting on these, Mr Forsyth said that they showed that Hawley and Co. were not proposing, in respect of the TV aimakariri, anything respecting which they had no preA'ious experience One dam shown was 230 feet high, as compared with the 150 ft high dam proposed at Otarama.