The Matamata Record Published every Thursday THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1919 THE HORAHORA SCHEME

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 118, 6 February 1919, Page 2

The Matamata Record

Published every Thursday

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1919 THE HORAHORA SCHEME

The Only Paper published in the Matiimatu County

Office Tower Jloud „ P.O. Box 38 'Phone 82

To insure insertion advertisements must reach tho office not later than Wednesday afternoons at 4 o'clock. Changes of advertisements Must bo sent initiator than Tuesdays at noon.

MANY months ago a meeting was addressed in Matamata by Mr J. P. Gouvain, of the Waihi Goldmining Co. Ltd., on the matter of an electricity supply. The matter placed before the meeting appeared to meet with the approval of all present, and it seemed that a scheme for the •'.whole Matamata district would K be pushed forward. However, in this connection little has been done—in fact one could really say nothing—except that the project was given good publicity throughout the Waikato and in Auckland. The next heard was a project to get the Government to either take over and develop the ' Horahora works, or to adopt a scheme by which the Arapuni falls could be utilised. The former scheme has been advocated throughout the Waikato and the latter throughout the Province. Many Matamata people are wondering whether the publicity given to the Matamata meeting has urged the advocates of the two schemes in Waikato and Auckland to hurry up. Certain is it that the local bodies of the Upper Thames Valley have not followed suit.. The two . schemes have been discussed at meetings, but it would seem that there are very few men in the : district who are alive to the greatness of the enterprise or to the manner in which the district's claims should be heard. It cannot be said that no warning word has been uttered, for in recent reports of Matamata meetings both Mr E.C. Banks and Mr J. Price have pointed out the danger of the Matamata, Morrinsville and Te Aroha districts being badly left, if more enthusiasm was not shown. Now, the point is that on Saturday last a meeting was held at Te Awamutu, a -summary of the report appears in another column. The Thames Valley is sympathetic, from all appearances, with the Horahora project, but has lost ground through not going forward in time. Is it not time that a confonence between local bodies in the Upper Thames Valley was held ? The chief engineer in reporting on a scheme.should consider the whole. South Auckland district, not only the Waikato and King Country. The vast Morrinsville, Te Aroha and Matamata districts are not included, and it is up to the public men of these districts to see that they are fully considered. There is |no argument as to the commercial value of electricity, and the question that but remains is how long it will be before a scheme is in full operation. Matamata and Te Aroha should be amon* the first to enjoy the benefits, providing their public men can hold their own.