ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 185, 25 April 1918, Page 8

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

SCHEME TO HARNESS MANGAHA6 VISIT OF INSPECTION PROPOSAL WARMLY ENDORSED t The possibilities of the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme woro unfolded yesterday to numerous delegates from local bodies in the AVollington, Palinerston iNorth, aud Wamjaiiui districts, on t'lio occasion of a visit of inspection to the source of tho proposed supply, the Jlnnganao Bivor. Hepresentatives from L r ., an 4 near concentrated at Shannon at the instance of the Palinerston North Chamber of Commerce, and proceeded by relays of motor-cars and saddle horses to some seven miles east of the town, through very rough and steep'country, .densely-bushed in parts, to Mr. Alfred Siefert's 'property. There at a very high altitude the party arrived at the site of the proposed main dam, which, together with two other smaller clams, it is suggested, shall furnish water-power for the purpose of electrifying the wholo of the ■Wellington Province as far as Taihape and Wangamii aud t'i» southern portion of ITnwke's Bay. This scheme is suggested as one of the several' electrical schemes by means of which "\o Government proposes to electrify the North Island. In his report on the scheme. Mr. E. Parry, Chief Government Electrical _ Engineer, estimated the t< tal cost, including transmission lines, etc., at .£I,OOO COO. After the delegates had inspected the proposed source of supplv they adjourned to "Honeymoon Cottage" farm, some three miles east of Shnnnon, on which it. is proposed to erect the power-hvuise. There thry resolved themselves into a conference, li-liich was marked by (lie unanimity of opinion amongst delegates as to tho suitability and flesHraokness of the Mangahao scheme. The ur.l boring was presided over by Mr. L. H. Collinson, president of. the Palmcrston North Chamber of Commerce. In welcoming the delegates, Mr. Collinson said all admitted that the possibilities of the Mangahao' scheme were pretty enod. and tho most nrcontable nfferin" to tho .districts represented at tho conference. • The speaker stressed the fact that the shortage of coal and tho high price and scarcity of benzine made it imperative from the standpoint of efficiency that the scheme should be undertaken by the Government without delay. Tho country would have to be prepared for coping with the >"nffer-the-war" problems, and cheap motive power would be a trreat. factor in this connection.

Mr. E. A. 'Wright, M.r.. who with ■"«srs. J. E. Firzwnld , and W. ,T. Thompson, represented the Wellington City Council at the conference, followed with a eulogy of the Mnngahno proposition. The people of the district wero determined to see it carried through to a successful issue. Ho went on to say that Wellington City was at the end of its teMier, so far as extending its provision for electric motive powpr was concerned. It behoved the city to mako some provision, and he thought the scheme before them that day was a good one. Wellinston was deeply concerned with uettinp a scheme ndon'ted as soon as possible. Personally, he believed there should be sufficient power derived from the Mangahao to give the district all tho electrical energy it needed. The scheme would pay from tho jump Mr. W. R. Field, M.P., who has been actively associated with the proposed undertaking, gave an outline of tho history of the scheme since its' inception. He recalled that the late Mr. John Wnl•laco, one time general manager of tho Manawatu Railway Company, had remarked that if they wanted to do something for the Manawatu district they should impress upon the Government the necessity of harnessing the Mangahao. A number of years ago tho Government a report on the scheme, and it was a favourable one. A later report from the Chief Government electrical expert settled all doubts as to the success of the proposal. It had been deeply commended, and should bo tho first to bo undertaken. He believed that if the scheme wero pressed forward wholeheartedly the Government would undertake the preliminary work. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, of Wellington, pointed out that Mr. Parry had pronounced in very strong terms the necessity for developing the Mangahao scheme for this particular portion of the North Island. As regards Wellington City, it was very necessary that something should bo done to cope with the everincreasing demaiyi for tho supply of electricity. AVellingtou was a prospective purchaser of electricity, and it did not matter'to the city which 6chcme it patronised, so long as it. got current at the cheapest figure on the market. No" scheme would suit the citizens of Wellington, unless the Government could produce electricity cheaper than the city itself could produce it.

On behalf of Wangonui Mr. Maekay urged that if the Government would not undertake the work il. should allow the district to be benefited by tho supply of power to take it on. lie bespoke Wangauui's warm support o£ the Mangahao scheme Mr. Wilson, the Movor of Mnrton, announced-that the peoplo of his district were unanimous that the scheme was a good one, as did also Mr. Tully. on behalf of Feilding, and Messrs. E. Lancaster (Levin), W. H. Gunning (Shannon), and Hunt (Manawatu County Council). Before breaking up the conference unanimously carried, amid enthusiasm, a resolution caijing upon the Government to mvthorise the Mangahao scheme, and to take immediate steps to proceed into ths preliminary work, including the necessary reading, for the : nstallntion of the scheme, and that the vieilancc committee of tho Associated flliomJieis of Commerce be authorised to ret "for the conference to brim? Ihe matter before the Minister of Public Works. '