COLERIDGE POWER WORKS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14592, 16 February 1921, Page 2

COLERIDGE POWER WORKS

AIM IDLE RUMOUR

a report is current in the South that the water of Lake Coleridge, the source of the Canterbury power system. is falling so rapidly as to cause departmental officers grave concern as to the future of the scheme. Circumstantial details are added, it being' staled that in order to counteract the fall it lias been considered necessary to divert the course of a small river into tlio Lake. Our representative mentioned the report to Mr Hitchcock, manager of the Christchurch Electrical Department, wild formerly was connected with the Public Works Department and closely associated with the Lake Coleridge scheme. Mr Hitchcock stated in effect that the report was idle gossip circulated by persons who knew little about the. subject. The scheme had been most carefully worked out by experts, and it was unthinkable that they counselled live erection of expensive and elaborate works without being perfectly satisfied that the source of power would be adequate for all requirements. The river certainly was being diverted into the Lake, but that was part of the original scheme. The most convincing reply to Hie somewhat sensational rumour was I lie fact that the (iovernment was preparing lo considerably extend the present works. Mr Hitchcock commented somewhat strongly upon the fact that a section of the public was prone lo place more credence in the vapourings of nameless nobodies (imt in the carefully considered decisions and conclusions of men whose duty it. was lo make themselves expert in these matters.