The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1928.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1928.

1 ADVANCE, WEiSTLAND ! 1 The introduction of hydro-electric I power into North Westland is )>root of r! the general advancement the district | is capable of. This is the electrical | age, and any locality lacking electric I service is rather lagging behind. It | has remained for private enterprise to ! seize the opening here and prosecute j the venture. This is quite a step in I the right direction. It has been the 1 usual practice in many parts of Now | Zealand for the ratepayers to he 1 saddled with the burden of these unj dertakings, and many centres must | have reason to regret the haste with | which they entered upon the ventures—for they now have leisure to repent. The mistakes and misealcu--1 lations made under local body organi- | sation are rather a matter of history, ! while even Government organisation | is presenting some records of an adj verse nature. However, in the local instance matters appear to he progressing in a most satisfactory manner. The power has 'been brought in (o time, and the demand for the supply promises to he considerable. Tt was a happy thought to utilise the power possible of development from so much water running to waste. Mr Langford’s scheme appeared a practicable one from the outset, and he set about it in a very thorough manner. It was ascertained the water was there in constant supply, and by the scheme propounded, it became possible to use the same water twice over, thus making a very practicable use of the water conserved by the Government races. t\here the power lias now been developed the water is not allowed to run to waste indefinitely. It is again picked up and is to he used in a larger development scheme where more fall is obtainable on one of the lower flats below Dillmanstown over-looking the Teremakau river. Although the Government water races wore investigated previously for power purposes (notably in connection with the construction and running of the Arthur’s Pass tunnel) the dual use of the water was not. apparently taken into ac- 1 count. Had it been, it is probable that the present venture would never : have materialised. At Otira a steam 1 plant is being used to operate Arthur’s ’ Pass tunnel, and so the power for North Westland was reserved for its I present use. The undertaking lias been carried out with a good deal of s celerity. The engineering estimates as ' to time have been realised, and it is pleasing to find the power now about ' to. he used for industrial purposes in tb is neighbourhood. Once available, it is possible for various industries to J spring up, and no doubt very general use will lie made of both power and J light along the routes served. The experience elsewhere lias been that farmers anti settlers generally am ready to ‘ make full use of the current once it ; is available, and local settlers are not likely to he at all backward in enjoying the convenience and comfort thnt ” Ml electric service will provide aboiit 1

their farms and homesteads. The fact that an enterprise of such proportions lias materialised in our district is an assurance that Westland’s

pci sibilities will be further exploited. We believe that very encouraging results will lie obtained in the revival of mining pursuits. Alluvial ground of known values will be worked again in the old Waimea district, and we may oxjijrt mining developments to recur in the Blue Spur-Kanieri district where cheap power for pumping purposes is available. In point of fact, there should lie something of a mild mining revival. It is evident that sawmilling will extend with portable power so handy. This convenience will result in many out of the way blocks being cleaned up. Flax-milling is likely to he a prominent industry in Westland in the near future, and tlaxmills electrically equipped are .sure to materialise in suitable localities. Generally, therefore, the provision of the electric current should help the northern part of Westland very materially in industrial concerns, and a year’s operations should reveal great possibilities in that respect. Some need of jirai.se is due the Westland Fi’cctiie I’ower Board for the manner in which matters have been handled. Without imposing any district liability electricity lias been provided, and at rates which arc not to exceed price-, elsewhere. The public lies been securely protected and promise to be well served. There appears to be occasion for congratulations ail found in this present advan:emeut of Westland.