Page 3 Advertisements Column 2

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1987, 24 January 1907, Page 3

HARNESSING VICTORIA FALLS. It is anticipated that the colossal scheme for harnessing the Victoria Falls, on the Zambesi River, will be in partial operation in two years. The promoters, says the Trihuiio, confidently expect to savo £1,000,000 a year in the cost of working the mines on the Rand. Eminent scientific authorities—among whom is Lord Kelvin—are of opinion that the scheme is not only practicable, but comparatively east' of accomplishment, and that the site is an ideal one for that purpose. The distance over which the power will have to be conveyed (over GOO miles) will bo considerably the longest yet attempted, but electrical engineers hold that' theoretically, there is no limit to the distance over which power may be conveyed. The power developed at the Falls is said to ho almost inconceivable. The width of the river at the Falls is 1000 yards, and the drop is equal to the height of St. Paul's. The whole of the water then rushes through a narrow gorge for several miles. There is bore a natural concentration of water-power such as "is found nowhere else. The power-house will he situated 350 feet below the Falls, and will be concealed, so as not to impair the beauty of the grandest natural spectacle in •Africa. The electricity will he carried to Johannesburg by cables on steel towers 1000 feet apart. All spare power will he used to pump water into a reservoir at the top of a high hill, where it will form a reserve supply of energy. The manager of the company is very ojitimistic about the effect of tho scheme in South Africa. “In that great' sub-contin-ent, unhappily, work requiring unskilled labor canriot, as a rule, be performed by white -men. In these circumstances it becomes of the highest social and political importance to increase as far as possible the economic opportunities for white skilled labor. The establishment of great industries *at the Falls themselves, the supply of water for irrigation to agriculturists, and the provision of cheap power to the mines in the Transvaal will all tend to give greater employment to European labor, and will help to redress the balance between white and black." It is said that 750,000 people are dependent upon Niagara for their livelihood, although less than 500,000 horse-power has been harnessed The addition of half that number of white inhabitants would mean much to South Africa.

Letters received by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce from the Decimal Association, London, indicate that appreciable progress is being made by the advocates of the metric system of weights and measures. It is stated that the prospects of early success are brighter than ever. Money is being"'raised for propaganda purposes, and efforts are' also being made to get a bill through the House of Commons during next _ session. The pricking of the card in the House of Commons shows that 373 members have signed a pledge to support the proposal, and 41 are favorable, thus accounting for 414 friends of the movement in/ an Assembly of 670.