CORRESPONDENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17731, 3 December 1919, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

WANGANUI'S ELECTRIC SUP-PLY

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —As one who is greatly interested in the question of electric power for our town permit me to correct some statements made at last night's Chamber of Commerce meeting concerning the adaptability or otherwise of the Wanganui and Wangaehu rivers for the proposed power. In the first place I consider Wanganui should have a supply independently of Manganao for no doubt the time will come when Wellington Province will want all that Mangahao can develop. jWith reference to the advantages of Wangaehu River over Wanganui River as a source of power supply and the remarks made last evening by Mr Allen Robinson at the Chamber of Commerce meeting on the subject of the fall of the two rivers, all I can say is that if you have quite correctly reported that gentleman he simply talked absolute "piffle" when he declared that sthe fall in the Wanganui River is greater than that of Wangaehu. Take for instance a distance of say 70 miles up each of these rivers and you will find the fall to Wanganui, to be under 200 feet in Wanganui River, while the fall of Wangaehu for the same distance (to its mouth) is over 2000 feet. " Comparing these two rivers again at the same distance up each, in the case of Wanganui River the rise at high flood is about 60 feet above normal, while the Wangaehu rises about 6 feet, and the former is subject :o floods in winter and spring and very low in autumn (and will be lower when the bush is all down), while the Wangaehu retains a very steady supply (being chiefly snow fed) during the whole year. Then there is the question of much timber at flood time in Wanganui River but very , little in Wangaehu or none at'all if the dam was built nearer Karioi plains. I have repeatedly noted the splendid opportunities of harnessing this river that the country presents towards Karioi and it is possible that there are as good places lower down stream, and I there is no doubt Messrs Crow and Poison are on the right track when they advocate the Wangaehu for the purpose of providing power for Wanganui's electric scheme. I trust the Chamber of Commerce will lose no time in inducing the people of Wanganui to engage say an electrical engineer, a civil engineer, and surveyor* to visit the localities mentioned 'and report upon these tAvo rivers and their capabilities or otherwise to develop sufficient power for industrial and domestic electric supply. • If ,Mr Stark, of Christchurch. could be induced to accompany the party and also report I feel sure that it would be at least one good step in the right direction. It is no use waiting for the Government to undertake this work while Mangahao scheme is in progress; it should be undertaken by the Borough or by a company, and right away or as soon as the data is available this-summer if it is decided not to accept Mr Poison's offer.— I am, etc., "INTERESTED." P.S.—I understand that the analysis of the minerals in Wangaehu River shows that they will not affect metals used in the necessary power machinery. :