Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 18th, 1920 WATER POWER.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 18th, 1920 WATER POWER.

“As regards water power, there is every reason for hoping that in I time to coine it will bring a pros-' * peritv to Westland equal to that of the mining industry in its bc6t days . and incomparably more permanent • in its nature, ' The foregoing quotation is an extract from the geological report of Dr J. M. Bell submitted to the Minister of Mines at Wellington on 23rd. October, 1908. i The prophet at the time had but little honor in the land, hut now after an interval of only twelve years, the force and point of the prophecy can be realised and appreciated by the public generally. More than that, the principal . public body of Westland is about to give the people a lead in regard to the [ utilsation of water power in the district for the purpose of supplying light and , energy. The preliminary arrangements to that end appear to bo taking shape j at last-. Ther e has been the usual departmental delay affecting the launching of the project , but it is hoped • to have the electric, power district gazetted this week and authority issued to ’ proceed with the election of the first Rower Board. During the week end [ the Westland County Council has been in conference with Mr J. R. Templin, an electrical engineer, gleaning useful information regarding the scope and cost of the power scheme which it is intended ultimately to place before the people. In the meantime the public, particularly of the country districts which will be he first to be seryed with the electric current in the event of the general scheme coming to pass, should give thought and attention to the project in hand. As Dr. Bel! has pointed out it is capable of bringing the district enhanced prosperity. In various parts of th c world it has been demonstrated very clearly what can be done by the provision of cheap power. In Panada, file United States, and olsewhere the harnessing of the waste waters of the ever-flowing rivers has transformed the whole countryside. Land has been treated and settled; towns have sprung up, and industries have expanded in a remarkable manner. New Zealand is beginning to Imitate the example of other countries, and parts of Canterbury are thriving very greatly because of the purposes to which electric power developed at Lake Coleridge are being utilised. Westland has opportunities second to none for the develop- , ment of power from its rivers and lakes, I The occasion appears to be at band i when the people will be called on to ( help themselves in this respect. Indus- j try is now' expanding in the district, | and given cheap power no doulbt more | and more industry will ble encouraged ■ to set up here. For commercial purposes and for aiding farm and domestic work, there will be a demand for the , power once it is available. The local ( body concerned ii doing a good sendee at this juncture by looking into the 1 merits of the case, and deciding wliat | form the project 'should take. The 1 undertaking will involve considerable 1 capital outlay before revenue can -be looked for, and for that reason the scheme lias to be handled carefully It lias to lie kept within reasonable means. Money is not. going to be so plentiful, nor so riieap that it can be raised easily. In oiiy case the scheme i has got to be formulated on a payable basis. At the outset the revenues will be restricted, and for that reason the cost of the work must lie limited to es- i timated income. The ideal scheme will 1 He one providing for expansion ns the i demand for power increases. Tt "ill i require, also to be as modest a.s possible if tlie people are to get the benefit , quickly, because with the present con- s dition of the labor market, the work- :

moil for tt large undertaking are hot available. But though the scheme will be hampered somewhat by the surrounding circumstances, the future alidad gives promise of ultimate success. Westland is now' on the high road to marked prosperity, and the introduction will be another aid in the same direction. The district will be able to afford the lux ury of the great convenience of'"electric power for light and energy, and or.ee enjoyed, its presence will have that effect on the permanent prosperity of Westland which Dr Bell foretold a dozen years ago almost to a day.