NORTH WESTLAND HYDRO-ELECTRIC SUPPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1928, Page 1

NORTH WESTLAND HYDRO-ELECTRIC SUPPLY

The scheme involved in the hydroelectric supply for North Westland is more embracing than is thought generally. Now that practical proof is being demonstrated by the delivery of the power, and its use industrially, greater interest is being centred in tlie enterprise, which really marks a new epoch for the district. The Power .Station just opened is No. 1 o the scheme, and in the general proposal, it is regarded a.s the auxiliary. No 2 Power Station will he in course of erection immediately at Dillmanstown, where the plant for the first of the main station unit, has arrived already. No A Power Station will he a.t Humphreys. Upper Anihurn A'alley, where the Humphreys Gully water race will he tapped for power pm-poses .similar to that already at Duffers and a.s proposed at Dillmans. There will thus lie three Power Stations in the full system and these will lie all inter-connected.

From No. 2 Station the power line will stretch north via Kuinara .Junction when required to deliver power in hulk to the Grey Power Board across the Teremnkau river, if power is required at traus-Teremakaii. in the vicinity of Kiimara, ii can he .supplied also it is all a matter of demand. The same remark applies to the Borough of Kuinara. From No. 2 Station a reticulation line will follow the main highway passing near Callaghans, Gohlsborouigli and Stafford, where there are possibilities for a mining revival following electricity being available. No. I and 2 Stations will lie connected via Fox’s and the former line already runs down tlio Arahura Valley. and later No. ;i power line will connect up with the Valley service, making a .complete circuit. The main line will reach towards the outskirts of Hokitika, which, hv arrangement, would he able to obtain power in hulk from the new source of supply. A reticulation line is now being take n f tlie Kanieri-Hokitika sawmill oil the outskirts of the town, coming across from the Arahura Valley. This line will also tap Kaniori township and ultimately serve Woodstock, Bimu and the Kokatahi-Koiterangi A'alley. From Koitcrangi it is designed to carry the power supply line across country bv tlie Kokatnbi-Boss track and ultimately to serve Totara distret and Boss. At the same time the lino to Bimu can l>e extended to Mananui and thence to Buatapu and on t> link up with the jiower line across country from Koitcrangi.

All those ox( elisions are contingent on the economic demand for power and light. The industrial demands for sawmilling, mining, fanning and llaxmilling are expected to be a growing quantity and will be Hie staple source for business, As the linos arc extended to serve those purposes, townships on route will have the benefit ol lighting and for domestic purposes, and the result should be a grout comfort and convenience to those in the country districts.

It will lie seen from ilie foregoing that tin l possibilities of tin? scheme to serve all parts of North Westland are very considerable, ami the people will have the opportunity of availing tlienisftlves o| this modern service prarti<all\ at their own sweet will. It remains for those with industries and living in the dill'erent eon Ires. t> net together and make their applications, and as soon as the demand promises to equal the cost of providing the reticulation service, no douhl the company will avail itself readily of the opportunity to extend its business and trading eon nee t ions. Prom the foregoing it will he concluded that the enterprise is destined to play an .important part in the future of the district. A new era has •set in and it is for the people to take advantage of the opportunity whirl) has been brought before them in such an unostentatious hut practical manner. Tt is a rare opportunity to assist in promoting the general welfare of the- district.