Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13th, 1918

WATER POWER

It is abundantly clear that the time is not far distant when the Dominion’s fortunate situation in regard of waterpower available for hydro-electrical generation will be of great value. It is a reproach against the government, of the country that the immense power running to waste for so long, has been allowed to remain dormant. What is being done in regard to the Lake Coleridge works', together with the exigencies of warfare,' and the realisation of whai other countries have dotie by harnessing available water-power, has supplied a lesson which cannot be longer neglected. The Public "Works Act of 1908 vested the sole right to use the water power in the Government, and two years later authority was given to establish hydroelectric supply installations at Lake Coleridge. This lias been an almost instant success financially and operatively. Not only is the electric side of the works becoming a highly remunerative proposition—apart from the volume of cheap power produced for use over the; Canterbury plains—but valuable developments are taking place in regard tq ( producing chemicals. This expan- t sion will go on. Lake Coleridge is thus j an instant example of what can be done, " and is at once an encouragement to the country to take up the project of hydroelectric development with zest and eagerness. Money is the initial requirement, to establish the works, and in these days when millions are as freely provided as hundreds of thousands, the finanical barrier should not be any real obstacle. A courageous Minister of Public Works who can formulate a ge nerous scheme of operations, and asks for the money for that purpose, will not appeal in vain. A policy of this nature will be one certain way of assisting to meet the post-war problems which are to arise. In this phase oh ability development, Westland has exceptional facilities to j play a prominent part. Hero; are a few of the sources oi power in Westland County' usable for great industrial developments:

Distance Power soiirciv. Horse Power from

Hokitika Kanieri Lake 2,800 20 miles Toaroha River .... 19,000 17 miles Whitcombe River .. 16,000 20 miles Kakapotahi River 4,800 26 mileWanganui River ... 40,000 36 mile Wataroa River 80,000 48 miles The relative, valiie of these sources will be best understood when it is mentioned that Lake Coleridge had an average horse-power capacity of 8.000, and it is 70 miles from Christchurch. The above list does not exhaust the Wesl Coast resources, which are enormous in the founds district. A considerable number of the sources referred to an suitable for general industrial development,, while the more remote sources are particularly suitable for utilisation in connection with electro-chemical or electro-metallurgical industries. With the urospeet. of the early completion ol the Midland railway, and the inflow of population the time is most opportune for the establishment of valuable industries. Experience has taught during the war what the country might do for itself, and from its own raw pmflucts produce its own manufactured goods. Tn this way capital, labour and interest remain in the country. There is no economic leakage but the Dominion would he put on the high way to industrial activity and - great industrial expansion.