The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1927. AN IMPORTANT STEP.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1927. AN IMPORTANT STEP.

Tue Westland Power Board is responsible for a very important step in the interests of the district, and is to be congratulated on the success with which tho matter has been arranged. At the mooting of the Board on Wcd- ] nesday it was reported' the terms for acquiring the Government water races at Kiunara for liydroe-leetric purposes were completed satisfactorily and negotiations were finalised also with a provisional company of good standing to undertake the work of development and reticulation of the district. This is a very happy issue to the negotiations, assuring as it does to North West’aml a supply of electric power on very favourable terms, and without any contingent liability on the part of tho ratepayers. The people will have the convenience of light and power at hand, and those requirng, the service will pay a reasonable price, and a charge not exceeding the fixed Government rates. That is the end of the liability, and for the payment full service is obtained. There is no pledging of rate security, and no liability to pay extra rates if revenue does not meet expenditure. The people are secured absolutely. The Board has done good business in this matter and served the people well. The deal has been an excellent one in the public interests, and Messrs Butler (the Chairman of the Board) and Murdoch (a member) are to be congratulated very heartily on the results attending their late visit to Wellington in regard to securing the rights from the Government. In fact tliere is occasion for allround congratulation. The Government in the first instance is glad to unload the water rights for a substantial payment, seeing that of late the maintenance of the races for purely mining purposes was a. loss. The Government has thus been relieved of a financial burden. The provisional company about to lease the property from the Power Board for a term of years under restrictive conditions, is satisfied also with the facilities for entering on

an iinlustra! enterprise which il is hoped will be prolita.ble all round. The company has plumbed the. possibilities of the undertaking and lias expectations which promise to give a great fillip to North Westland. There will be ihe means ready at hand lor consmeiable industrial expansion. .Mining ventures at present dormant are likely to ho revived. In regal'd to sawinsllin . there will lie facilities tor small blocks of timber to he cut out economically. Other industrial enterprises are almost sure to present themselves. Hie various centres and townships will be served with light, and in ibis connection such districts as Arnliurn. Kanieri and Kukntahi are likely to be brought into the area served. Tn traversing the farming districts, the settlers along the routes will have tho opportunity of tapping the line, so that there should he a transformation in stoic for the farming communities as the development takes shape. Indeed, already applications for light and power "arc being received from cpiarters not counted noun before, so llnit the ramifications are likely to be a

growing quantity once the .work is put in hand. The proposed company lias substantial financial backing and is providing for an expenditure of C<>o,(KK) to £70,000 to complete the undertaking. A venturi- of this nature must be of advantage to the district as a whole, and ii is pleasing to record it as further evidence of the firm faith in the ultimate future of Westland. The Company deserves to succeed, and the local backing is sure to lie substantial. The Rower Hoard lias given close attention to all details.

end for its circumspect ion the ratepayers of the district are indebted. The local bodies of Westland have done good service invariably for those represented, and in this particular ease

very excellent service lias been rendered in taking the important step for the district now decided.