HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3009, 21 February 1917, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

'"."": WELLINGTON'S NEED.. V .. Onacount of the funeral of the' late Hon. George M'Leta having been'arranged to take place in Wellington yesterday, the proposed conference of local bodies, called by the Wellington City Council, to urge the Government to deClare its intentions .with respect 'tea hydro-eleotrio power schemo for Wellington, and district, was postponed. Instead of having.a formal conference,, as'was originally intended, the matter' will tako the shape, of a deputation to the Minister of, Publio Works (Hon. William Fraser) to-day, when, it- is ,' anticipated that the Wellington City Council, and o'ther bodies concerned, will bo given some sort of guide-witli respecji to the. Government's; intentions to safeguard the interests of the public where expenditure on power .schemes may be contemplated. _ ;In the case-of Wellington, the need far this information is a pressing one. The Mayor has stated that,both our electrio''power-houses are now filled to their capacity, and that-if tho services (tramways and lighting) l are to be further extended, a new central powerhouse will have to be erected on an entirely new site close to the water- •■ front (to. save cost in the handling of coal), and that, perhaps, in the very near future. This would be an im.mensely costly -work, and it is to ascertain whit "prospects there are of getting energy from water power within the •nest few years, that the matter is being pressed, for the policy of the coun- • cil in this regard must he formed on the Government's intention: It is generally understood that the Government expert, Mr. Ewan Parry, has a scheme of uniting the flow of the Arapeti and another stream in the hills immediately at the back of • Shannon, in a manner that Would give the required fall for power-generating purposes'. ; The Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce has convened a conference on the same subject 4o be held.there to-morrow.