HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1920, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER

WESTLAND’S POSSIBILITIES

A meeting was held on Saturday evening under the auspices of the Westland Chamber of Commerce, at the County Chambers to meet Mr F. T. M. Kissel, Government hydro-electric officer, who is paying a visit to this disdistriot. The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) presided over an attendance of twenty members. Mr Perry in opening the meeting said they had been, called together to meet Mr Kissel, the Government expert, with a view of hearing his views on the possibilities of the district from a hydro-electric expert’s point of view, and also to gather information as to the 'best course to bo followed to enable the speeding up of (fhe necessary steps to enable the installation of power in this district. Mr Kissel who was received with applause, spoke at some length on the subject. Hd stated he had come to the district to gather information on the hydro-electric possibilities of the district for the Use of the Department. (He had been making some enquiries and studying data and was making a further investigation of possible sources of power. He was not there to express an opinion on the actual position. That no doubt would be done later by the Minister when the reports were submitted to him. In the past vast sums of money have been wasted by the installation of unsuitable plants, and he urged that every care should bo taken when making an installation that it was erected on proper lines, and that the system was connected up with other systems to enable thoroughly effective operations to be carried on. Hydroelectric power is of the utmost importance and was recognised as such everywhere. Large stations were urged for installation as being far more economical than a number of small ones. He dealt at sonic length with installations in America and outlined the course to bo followed with a view to inaugurating a movement for the provision of power for the district.. In this connection he had been viewing Lake Brunner, and Lake Kanieri especially, hut the speaker did not give voice anything like an optimistic utterance as to their possibilities as power sources. He proposed making a further investigation ati Cake Kanieri in the course of the next' few days. In concluding

Mr Kissel stated that his object in visiting the district was to see what the power resources were, and he would be glad to have any information on the subject that- those present could give him. (Applause). A general discussion followed, a number of questions being asked and replied to dealing with power and the manner in which the movement should be carried on. Mr D. J. Evans then moved *hat the local bodies in Westland be to take such steps as were necessary to form a preliminary committee to obtain signatures to a petition to enable a poll to be taken on the question of forming a Power (Board for the district. Mr R. Wild seconded the motion, nnd after some discussion as to the scope and area of the proposed Board, the motion was agreed to. A vote of thanks to Mr Kissel for his attendance and interesting address was then carried by acclamation, and with a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding, the meeting terminated.