WHANGAREI POWER SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1339, 17 January 1912, Page 4

WHANGAREI POWER SCHEME.

THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS 1 (Br Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, January 16. Information, has been received in Whangarei from a reliablo source that in consequence of an unfavourable report from the Government Electrical Expert (Mr. Parry), the Government is not prepared to proceed with the Wa-irua Falls hydroelectrical power scheme. At a meeting of the Whangarei Borough Council yesterday the Mayor (Mr. T. H. Steadman) referred to the 'matter. He moved: "That tho attention of the Prime Minister be drawn to the promise made by Sir John Findlay that if the borough would find a market for 1200 horse-power per annum the Government would immediately undertake the harnessing of the falls, and thai if tho Government arc not prepared to stand by the promise it be asked to delegate to the council the authority to proceed with the work." The Mayor added that he was prepared to lay before tho council a scheme which 110 was sure would prove a commercial success. Mr. S. Weaver, in supporting the motion, remarked that the Government would be adopting a dog-in-the-manger policy if it did not allow tho council to undertake the v;ork. The motion was carried unanimously. and it was decided to ask the Prime Minister to give an immediate reply to the communication.