HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2007, 26 July 1919, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

THE MANGAHAO SCHEME

In the coarse of: its annual report the Mangahao Hydro-Electric League says:—

“When the league was formed, the project was still (o a great extent in embryo form, and nothing more than preliminary surveys, etc., had been done. Daring the past year tbo project has been endorsed by the Government, and after considerable urging a start lias boon made on the construction works, Mach valuable time has boon lost in starting the preliminary reading, and it will lie necessary to use (‘very means to see the works pushed ahead as fast as possible. Your committee is glad to note that fair progress is now being made, between thirty and forty men being employed on the formation of the new road to the minor dam, contracts for the whole of which have been surveyed. The work is also being taken in hand of improving the present road by removing corners, etc., so as to allow of.heavy machinery being taken on to the site of dams, etc. It is certain, however, that a much larger labour force must be employed if the work is to be completed in anything approximating to the period allowed by Mr Parry, viz., three years, and your committee recommends members of the league to bring all possible pressure to bear upon the Government through the local members of Parliament, and in every other way possible to see that the work is further expedited. With a view to assisting, your committee is trying to arrange for monthly reports on the progress of the work. “There is a further development which your committee desired to draw attention to, and that is the need of preparation for using the power when available. We understand the Government does not desire to do any local reticulation, preferring that this be left to local bodies. It will be necessary, therefore, for each local body to ascertain by actual applications the number of residents prepared to use the power when available, and with that information for them to arrange their reticulation schemes accordingly. This will apply, ipore especially to rural districts, hut boroughs not at present reticulated for electric power and light will be well advised also not to leave this matter too long in abeyajiee. The amount of material required, especially polos, will be enormous, and it would be well to be well advanced, so as to ensure no delay in utilising the power. In this connection it may ho advanlagoons to contiguous local bodies to act together, and their attention is therefore called to section 3 of the Elcc- • trie Power Boards Act of last session, which provides an easy method of so combining.”