DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1923, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

[ IIY TELEGRAM —rEIt PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AMERICAN ENGINEERS’ REPORT. CHRISTCHURCH, July 30. The Christchurch City Council at a special meeting, held in committee, tonight, received from Messrs Charles B. llawley and Co., of Washington, their full report on the proposed hydro-elec-tric development of the Waimakariri River at Otarama Gorge. The report was a most Inilky document, and dealt exhaustively with all [finises of the question.

The engineers recommended a proposition w hich would east L‘B3B,GOO, and which would provide an initial generating capacity of 15,C0G K.w., with an increase to 32,500 k.w. t>y the installation of additional equipment, and with an ultimate capacity of -15,500 K.w. when provision was made for the regulation of the stream flow.

The average annual charges were set down at .L'9-1,500. which included the provision of 123,500 for depreciation, maintenance, and repairs, and it Was claimed that the demand for current would provide revenue amply to meet all outgoings, the cost to the consumer being considerable less than the Government charges.

Attached to the report was a lengthy commentary by Mr E. Hitchcock, genend manager of the Municipal Klectricitv Department.. Christchurch, in which lie strongly endorsed the scheme proposed by the engineers, and recommended that they he invited to .submit pirop'osals for the preparation of designs and specifications of the complete pdant. Icqthe (..(instruction of the dam and of the underwater portion of the piower-liou.se and for the terms upon which they would act as consulting engineers; to call for tenders in New Zealand for the remainder of the plant. and to su-j-orvise its erection.

i’KK.\iisj£S cmed. I K AWAAiri b, July 39. Shortly after 7i o'clock this evening a fire was discovered in business premises occupied by Mr Henderson, tailoi and owned by the Municipality. The lire brigade were quickly on the scene, and prevented the lire spreading to the adjoining premises. Henderson’s place was nutted, Some ol the contents were saved. An adjoining office was just vacated to-da.v. The origin of the outbreak is unknown. The premises and slock won* instilkut tkt* jiuiount is not yet known. Fireman Frtcker sustained severe cuts on the arms by falling through tile roof of ;t b-an-to at l Ik* hack.

heavy sheep losses. DUNEDIN, duly 30. The recent snow storms in ( - nual Otago have, it is feared, caused voij heavy mortality among sheep, and sonic runlmlders have heeil to be heavy 10-ers. H is not pos-iblc. as yet. to estimate the amount of loss, as (lie snow lies to a depth of a foot, or more over a large area of the country. One farmer estimates that his loss will u.tal C1',,000. and the manager of ~ Inrgo property has -1(100 sheep snowed in. and la* does not expect to rescue one ol that number. niSItoBXE 11 AI’BOFIL HISBOBNE. -fuly 30 The Harbour Board to-day decided i„ g„ mi with the construction at the first section of the new outer harbour. This included the diveision of Turanganui Diver to free the present inner harbour of silt, and protective works (ill the mouth of the river, also the improvement of the wharf accommodation on ihe Kniti side of the river, with a bridge across the Knit i side, to take railway traffic. ,\ decision was reached to do the whole of this instalment ol work, excepting tile railway traffic bridge, by day labour. The engineer's recommendation to open up a quarry at Baknuroa was adopted.

MEAT EX POUTS. WKI7LTNBTOX, July 30. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received cabled advice trout its agents that the shipments of meat from South America to the* United Kingdom, for the fortnight ended on the 28th inst. were as follows: 199.07(1 quarters of chilled beef. 66,849 quarters of frozen beef, -18,1 Jo carcases of mutton. 88,355 carcases of lamb. The quantity shipped to the Continent of Europe during ihe same period totalled 4(1.52“ quarters of frozen heel, and 1.2(13 carcases of mutton. DUNEDIN EXHIBITION*. DUNEDIN. July At a meeting of the Exhibition Directors tonight. Mr 71. Sutherland Boss was appointed Chairman. Tt was reported that the actual and promised applications for shares totalled £36,(M7>. It is expected that £50.090 will be in >ight within a few davs. when the company will proceed to allotment.