WATER POWER AVAILABLE.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 181, 26 June 1869, Page 4

WATER POWER AVAILABLE.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sik,— I am glad to find that the efforts now making to turn to account our flax, and the lands adapted for its culture, are calling attention to

our resources in the shape of water-power. One of the parlies starting in the Flax manufacture, has at my suggestion, determined upon making use of the Turbine as his motive power, and has erected a small model of such a wheel at my farm at Southside. Mr. Smith, who made this model, is prepared to construct the essential parts on such a scale as to give a power of several horses. The great advantage of the Turbine is its adaptability to any height of fall by a proper arrangement of its proportions. With high falls the power obtained is equal to that of au overshot wheel, with a great saving of cost; and with moderate falls, the power obtained is greater than that obtained from breast, or undershot wheels ; the Turbine being employed with a high per centage of useful effect, even with a fall of only nine inches. This is of great importance where it is desired to put up mills without intcrferauce with the drainage level of adjacent lands, or with the capacity of a stream for Hood water. There need be no difficulty in constructing efficient turbines here, as in most cases the amount of water available is ample, and the object should be not to attain the highest per centage of power from the water expended, but to make efficient machines at a moderate first cost. I am, &c. Alfred Dobson, C.E.