The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1920. NITRATES FROM THE AIR.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1920. NITRATES FROM THE AIR.

Definite progress is being made with a very ambitious scheme for harnessing power in one of the W est Coast Sounds for the purpose of extracting nitrates from the air. A survey party under .Mi- Jenkins, of the Public Works Department, has been busy since the end of last November working out tbe necessary data for a tunnel which it is proposed to construct in order to connect Lake Manapouri with Deep Cove. It is estimated that the water which will come through this tunnel is capable of producing as much as 250.000 horse power. In addition to the Manapouri supply there are halt a dozen other small sources of water power, near the main power site at Deep Cove and it is estimated that from these another 30,000 continuous horse power may be obtained. According to Mr J. Orchiston. the organiser of the nitrates scheme for the New Zealand Sounds Hydro-Electric Concessions Co., Niagara is the only other power site where more than 250.000 h.p. has been harnessed at one spot from the same source. It was at first expected that the tunnel would require to he "111 miles in length, but a deviation now proved possible will reduce that by about a mile. This means a saving"of £200,000. The works at Deep Cove are to la* located within a few chains of the wharf on a well-sheltered deep-water,* harbour. According to Mr Orchiston’s calculations, the charges for interest, sinking fund, and maintenance per horse (lower developed will not much exceed £1 a year as compared with about 18s 6d blithe hydro-electric nitrate schemes of Norway. The cost of generating a continuous horse power from coal in large units under existing conditions in New Zealand would probably exceed £3O per annum and in Great Britain it would lie aliout £ls. If the whole of the power generated at Deep Cove is used for the production of nitrates it is estimated that the gross value of the product will he about £2.500,000 per annum. From a commercial point • of view the scheme certainly looks attractive enough, and so far nothing has been heard from those who are anxious to guard the wonderful scenic beauties of the Sounds as a great national reserve. The original intention of the syndicate was to harness Bowen Falls at the head of Milford Sound, hut the protests made against the destruction of this justly-famed beauty spot were effective. The beauties of Doubtful Sound on which Deep Cove is situated, are not inferior to those of the more accessible and therefore more famous Milford Sound, but they are known on-

]y to a very few. It would seem that the'scheme has now gone too far for the promoters to fear being stopped for tho sake of the scenery, in the midst of which their works will he erected.