WATER POWER DEVELOPMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1921, Page 3

WATER POWER DEVELOPMENT

VISIT OF MR BIRKS. The visit of Mr L. Birks, Government , Electrical Engineer, to Toaroha yesterday, was carried out under ideal conditions. The weather was most favourable, the bush tracks being in good order, and good time was made. The arrangements for the trip were quite satisfactory and passed off with timetable exactitude. The party motored to Upper Kokatahi where .guides and horses were in waiting to negotiate the lords. T 1 tree rivers had to be crossed, namely the Kokatahi, Middle Branch, and Toaroha. The horses were used for Ibis purpose, and shortly after the third crossing the horses had to he left. Then begun the main climb to Toaroha Canyon, .which is some 1200 feet high. One of the guides was ahead to clear the busilr track, and boil the billy for the mid-day meal. The track-itself, though precipitous in places, is through a bush fairyland. Several feeders of the Toaroha were crossed, hut owing-to the spell of fine weather carried little or no water, and were not difficult to negotiate on foot. Good time warn made on the trip, and it was not long before the aneroid registered a. rise to 000 feet. The three principal creeks passed were the Clear, Barton, and Macmillan streams. Barton Creek contains a beautiful waterfall but there was not time to inspect it. At Toboggan Greek, one of the smaller streams, ! a fall of beautiful clear watei; was seen. i After crossing -Macmillan stream, the route'of Toaroha river is left, on the l ight, and there is a steady rise over -j the spur to avoid Toaroha Canyon. ! The party sought to reach tbe head of the Canyon, which was the objective of the dav’s excursion. After the first

stages of this rise lnjd been accomplished, and after about three hours’ tiainp from the end of the main road at Kokatahi, the party came to the welcome mid-day camp. The billy was boiling, and refreshments were served quickly. This break was a very welcome refresher, and the journey was resumed soon after. Within another hour the head .waters of the Toaroha Canyon came into sight and very impressive they were. There was a roaring torrent cascading over giant rocks, and a great spectacle it was. It was I a densely wooden scene on cither side. The bush was of a beautiful green, in all the varying tints which nature can provide. There were splashes of rata in bloom here and there, and the native birds were in evidence to add to the variety of the wonderful scene. Maps lucre studied as to localities and locations, and the party pushed on to the head of tbe Canyon where there are good conditions for storing water in an improvised reservoir. The ’ volume of water is substantial. Rough estimates varied from 250 to 100 heads, but a conservative estimate was considered to be a liftle above tin' 10-ser quantity quoted. This flow is bein' registered after a very dry period, athe condition of tlie bush :ind side streams indicate there has been very \little rain in the high country for some time. • i

After a thorough inspection of the locality, the return journey was made. Afternoon tea was ready at the'billy camp when the explorers returned, and by 4.30 o’clock the party were well en route for home. The return journey was made in good time, and well within the. daylight. The open river bed was readied before 7 o’clock, and the horses being picked up again, flic fords were easily negotiated, and the party were back to the 'main road by 7.30 o’clock, and the cars for the home journey were picked up, good time being made into town.

The general impression made by the trip was 'to confirm all that had boon, said hitherto about the feasibility and excellence of the Toaroha location lor hydro-electric development. Access is not as difficult as was exacted, at all events as far as the site of the power house would be concerned, and generally the scheme promises on the face ot it to he a very good one, with great potentialities promising to govern the future of Westland.