THE WATER POWER OF WESTLAND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 540, 22 June 1909, Page 7

THE WATER POWER OF WESTLAND.

;;NEW BEOUI/InQNS .■'■;•. .(By Telept^pl(.—Proja ' ■'.■■■ : : v;';■'_.'"'■;■ ,- v Hok|tlka, June 23.. continue! to be held throughout Westlana in opposition to tlio water-power regulations; recently • gasetted. ' V It. if held that encourageinent' should be eiven io bring capital into. 'New '-Zealand; without barassiug regulations necessitating the preparation, tif costly plans and the .production of a heavy, deposit. I(j is ahjo thought that power-rkttts should be root free till ventures' wbicn involve, very ture, prove a success,; ' ■ ' '•'.'■ '■''■■■. ; In the., of the Riiriu-Soddon'e Terrace goldfiqldi a proposal is afoot to float a ooinpany, with a capital of to cjeriye power; from tlie Toarpha River, tq pump water on' tovthe , field for hydraulio mining purpose;••■ Under the regulation?, this homst eitatog a deposit of £500 and the preparation of place;' etc., at' a cost of £2000, wliile an annual .rent of ,£2200, will be: required by.. the," Government' for ! water rights' for the place where'the power is derived. This ia \in addition,, to tho nsual charges ,under the Mining Apt" and. local ratine. The, extra impost tends to stifle 'and .prevents capital coming in,, hence tho public meetings of: protest, and requests for'modification; of. the regulations. ■ Other meetings will' be held during the week in countr* districts. '.■ . ■ .."'.- . ■ . ,

',- .■ '■■■■■ /.."•'■■'■ ■ "' • • ' '■■■ ■ '• •' Lator. - _A pupUcmeetuig was held at Rhnu on Saturday; jiight,'■'■to protest against the water power 1 regnlaiiona. The County Chairman of • Westland presided over '■ the meeting, wWih'waa-thq largest held in the district for many years , : Nearly all those present wore miner?, who.spoke in condemnatory >: terms of the action.of the Government, in practically locking up the waste water, power, especially wh>a there Jβ a large area of aunferous ground,; in AVestlaud to /be worked if the regulations were amended ea'as to allow i/be iritrodnction of capital Ihe of the proposed companv would employ about three hundred' meipin one venture alone.; As a rosnlfc of the meeting; resolutione have been forwarded to the bovenunent expressing disapproval of their action. .Further meetingb will. be held at Araijttra, Dilbaans, and, Kumaroa, and at .other centre, doring the week. It i? said that unless, the regulations are shortly amended, the capital:wMe?i it is. understood b'te lavaJabe for Westland propositions mil be diverted to,another cotratw