POWER FOR MARLBOROUGH

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 166, 9 April 1921, Page 3

POWER FOR MARLBOROUGH

the clarence river scheme

Mr Will Lawson, of Blenheim, the organiser of the progress campaign in Marlborough, who is visiting Welling ton was questioned yesterday as w what progress was being made m connection with hydro-electric P<>'v« fm the province. Mr. Lawson stated that he setting up of the Power Board was still hanging fire pending the repore of the Government Engineer on the cost of the Lake Rotoroa scheme—the big scheme that was proposed to supply all Nelson as well as Marlborough, but seeing that the nearest point of demam was from 65 to 70 miles from Rotoroa, it seemed to him that the scheme was not likely to be economically sound as tne demand of such small and widely-scat-tered towns was not. great enough to ensure cheapness. On the other hand a much more feasible scheme for Ma - borough was gaining favour by Jho who could see all round the quesno . This was a scheme to tap the Glarenc. 4.iver at a P«nt « miles only from Blenheim. This could Ire done W tunnelling half a mile through a nil . and Piping the wa,OT ° f <be into a creek, running in the opposii direction, which offered good fulls f° r power purposes. It was understood that a 7ft. square tunnel could bo bored through the hill, and all plant and wiring provided folr a. 5000-11 orse-power plant for approximately JIIOO.OOO. Further the supply could be led conveniently to Kaikourn, Ward, Seddon, Blenheim, Picton, and Havelock, as the line would traverse, for the greater part of its length, the existing coach road. At present there wa.9 opposition to the Clarence River scheme in some quarters. due to a mistaken sense of loyalty to Nelson, but others with him were convinced that hydro-electric pnlvation for Marlborough lav in the Clarenc" River scheme, which wa° at present being investigated by a, Government engineer (Mr. Sampson).