HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 122, 6 March 1919, Page 2

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Meeting at Matamata. A meeting for the purpose of discussing the matter of forming a hydro-electricity league in Matamata and district, was held on Monday evening. Mr J. Price was elected to the chair. There was a fair attendance. Mr Price outlined the actions of the local delegates, and also reviewed the situation as it was throughout the province at present. In the course of his address Mr Price stated that it was within the power of districts to form themselves into boards, and he considered this should be done ‘in Matamata, so that the district would be ready to advocate its immediate claims when the Government takes action. In this district there were within a radius of five miles, 6,350 cows, the produce of which was sent to the various local factories. This did not include the number of cows, which were supplying the Frankton and Te Aroha factories. He considered there were fully 10,000 cows being milked within a radius of five miles of Matamata. He felt he was safe in saying that inside five years quite 20,000 cows would be milked in the district. The district was eminently suitable for an easily worked scheme. He suggested

that if a league was formed a representative from each district should be appointed so that the work of gathering data might be expedited. In furtherance of the general scheme he said that 33 per cent of the consumers in Christchurch pay less that 4s per month for lighting, and 40 per cent less than ss, from the Lake Coleridge works supply. The power was conveyed from Lake Coleridge over two independent transmission lines 62 miles, to the main distributing station at Addington, where it is carried out of six feeders, each in duplicate, to various sub-stations. As instancing the remarkable cheapness of the power Mr Price stated that at Tai Tapu a Mr Perryman has eight 50 c.p. lamps, one 32 c.p., seven 24 c.p. and five 16 c.p. lamps, one Kilowatt radiator, one iron, five lights outside, 2 h.p. motor, milks 20 cows, separates, pumps skiin milk to tanks and runs grinding stone etc., at a cost of £2l per year. Mr A. Bowler asked if it was intended that Matamata should work for itself ailone, or join with others and work for the Thames Valley generally. He considered that Waikato had had all the say, and the valley was being smothered. Mr Price said it rested with ; the meeting. ’ Mr H. Rollett said he was with

Mr Bowler in his remarks. He moved, and Mr E. C. Banks seconded, that a hydro-electric league be formed to work in conjunction with other leagues in the Thames Valley. Mr Banks considered 800 h.p. would be required for d dries, households, factories, etc., within the radius mentioned. The lines were going through the town, and Matamata should be one of the first places to get the power. The benefits of electricity and its economic values could not be over-estimated, and yet it was regretable that the Government was so dilatory. He figured that the Horahora works could supply ourrent to a dozen districts the size of Matamata. The motion was carried. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr J. Price; committee, Messrs H. Rollett (Mati), M. Madill (Taihoa), W. Harding (Turanga-o-moana), C. A. Stopford (Te Poi), Sutherland (Okauia), C. Brown (Hinuera), E. C. Banks (Matamata), W. A. Gordon (Matamata Town board), A. J. Tong (Wahaioa), and J. W. Anderson (Pairere); secretary, Mr B. Blennerhassett; treasurer, Mr J. Price. A discussion took place as to the membership fee, some maintaining that it should be fixed at 2s 6d and others at ss. It was argued that the former subscription would mean that all would join, while the higher fee might stop some. The advocates of the latter stated that it might be necessary to send delegates away; also that if the population knew of the benefits to be derived none would object to sharing in the cost of the preliminary work. The subscription was agreed upon at ss. In conclusion the chairman asked that all present should urge upon others the importance of the whole matter, and use their best endeavors to get members. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Price for convening and conducting the meeting.