WESTLAND ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1921, Page 4

WESTLAND ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

MONDAY, MARCH 21st. The regular meeting of the Board was held at the County Chambers at 2.35 p.m. Present: Messrs W. J. Butler fChairman) ; R. 1'• Perliani, L- H. Morel, T.‘ W. Duff, B. Ward, T.. R. Chesterman and J. A- Murdoch. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and eoniinnod. The outward correspondence was

read and approved. IN WAR D CORRESPON D FNCE. From Public Works Department aek

nowledging notification of election of Chairman and clerk.—Received. From same regarding reniuneratim of members and appreciating the act-

ion of members not to charge personal expenses until the Board is placed on a definite basis of operation; also stating that regulations were now to he dratted which would allow for travelling ex--1)MH r S “a' taallv and reasonably red” and a guinea a day as remuneration for services rendered.- Received. From Minister of Public Works finwarding a copy of the report ot h Bil -l. : s, Chief Electrical Engineer oi his lute visit as follows “I beg to report that in accordnne with your instructions I visited AAcsl land on 20th anil 21st, January. “An Electric Power Board lias al ready been formed, consisting only ( part" of Westland County hut omittm the three included Boroughs, Hokitiki Kumara and Boss. Toarohn Gorg and Kanieri Forks Power Plant (UN 1, p) were visited with members of tl .Board. The Boa.vl has only met on. vet, and has not decided on any polic; “ j placed the position generally h f()r e a meeting of the representativ of the local authorities and others i tcrested, anil understand as a resti that tin, Boroughs will probably nc petition to join the Power Board, win is very desirable, and would make t district correspondent with that su crested in our scheme. The total pop Utiou is 7,292, and the estimated po e r demand apart from any special i volopment of gold-mining is 1500 h.p. “A large American company lias i cently bought the Kanieri Forks Pov plant for operating a large dredge - the Rimu Flats. Apart from this I ; not anticipate any special developmi for some time to come. The Toaro River is a- large scheme which woi not lie economical for development oi ’ small scale, and is in view for inves 3 .ration, as the future Governim 3 source for joining up with the Soi 3 Island transmission system'. Chon] ' schemes of 2.000 to 4.000 h.p are nvi k ~1,1,. l,y developing; ttie Kanieri La h\ arraiigeinent with the Rimu b " G.AI. Co. or the Araliurn River. “'flic obvious immediate source is 1 Kumara water-race it abandoned sluicing purposes, and the Board i probably move first by enquiring i 11 the possibility of obtaining power fr v this source.” Received. A general discussion on power ‘‘ the district arose out of the foregoi 0 Air Murdoch mentioned the possil ’■ tics of securing power from the Kan 8 Electric Ltd., and it was genon ;t agreed it would he as well to await 9 velopments in tluit quarter. Enqi in regard to other sources of power to continue, the Chairman and Air 1 Jodi being a sub-committee on

matter. Mr Duff moved that the Board await a reply regarding the suggested Kumara licbeme, and that Air Alurdoch Ih> thanked for the- infornuition conveyed to the meeting regarding the prospect of securing flower from bake Kanieri. Air Ward seconded. The motion was supported by the members present and carried unanimously. Accounts to the amount, of £22 2s (id w ere passed for payment. The matter of fixing th ( > date of tlie meeting was left in the hands of the Chairman and Air Murdoch. The meeting rose at 3.45 p.m.