LAKE COLERIDGE ELECTRIC SCHEME.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17117, 12 April 1921, Page 7

LAKE COLERIDGE ELECTRIC SCHEME.

TO THE EDITOB OF "THE FBESS." Sir,—l notice in your issue of the 9th inst. that Mr Cbates affirms that the above scheme is quite all right, and there is no cause for alarm. Now, sir, the position is juat this. Lake Coleridge adjusted itself at a certain level* with the regular overflow thousands, if not millions, of years ago, and how any man or men could tap. that lake and expect a constant supply without depletion beats' all comprehension. But some will say that the diversion of the Harper river was anticipated from the beginning. Very well, in all common sense that was the place to commence work. Now, as practically the whole of the public of Canterbury Plains arc watching this thing, and thousands of people are waiting daily for the power, I would like to ask Sir Coates (first) will be guarantee that he can assume absolute control of the Harper river, and. if so. will he guarantee the same to be sufficient for the two pipes already working, and also the pipd being put in; and also, are there any other rivers or streams that could conveniently be utilised and their probable volume? It seems to me the whole thing is simply a wash-out, for the simple reason that the maximum supply is altogether too limited, and the sooner wo shift ourselves and get to rock-bot-tom the better, for if those three pipes were working full bore they would represent about one-hundredth part of the requirements of the immediate,future. What we want is almost unlimited power, and let the world know it, and I guarantee it would put millions in the countiy in no time. We are fortunate in having the energy at our very nose in the river Waimakariri.— Yours, etc., . ANDREW DENISON. Broadfield.