HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2396, 23 February 1922, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

FIRST MEETING OF HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD. The first meeting of the newlyelected Horowhenua Hydro-electric Power Board was held at Levin on Monday’, when there were present: Messrs G. A. Monk, A. Seifert and A. A. Brown (Horowhenua), C. Kilsby (Qtaki), F. Whibley (Foxton), W. H. Gunning (Shannon),'A. I. McKay (Hutt), W. Barber (Manawatu), and D. W. Matheson (Levin Borough). The first business was the election of a chairman, and Mr G. A. Monk was unanimously selected for (hat post.

On taking the chair, Mr Monk observed that within two years, if the Minister’s assurance could be accepted, Mangahao power would be available, and that being the case, the Board would have no time to spare in preparing for its- reception. For a few months he did not think it would be necessary to have a permanent clerk nor to establish a special office, and in the meantime be was sure that, if the County Council was approached, Mr Goldsmith, who had acted all along as secretary of the Provisional Committee, would be allowed to do the clerical work of the Board in conjunction with his duties as County Clerk. Mr Goldsmith was leaving for Auckland on his annual holiday's, and on the return journey lie bad promised to look in at Cambridge and Te Awamulu, where similar boards were already under way in connection with the Horaliorn scheme, and gather any information that be might deem of value for the guidance of the Horowhenua Board. A committee consisting of Messrs Matheson and Brown was then appointed to wait on the County Council regarding Mr Goldsmith’s duties. It was announced by the Chairman that there was a recommendation on hand from the Provisional Committee that Mr Goldsmith be re-imlnirsed for his services by the payment of 50 guineas. This could not lie dealt with, however, until the Board had funds to work on. It was very much to the credit of the Provisional Committee that its expenses were 50 per cent. less than those of most of the other similar, committees set up in the country. The total which the Board would have to take.over as antecedent liability did not exceed £2OO. Regarding the mechanical part, Mr Seifert considered that continuity’ and smoothness %f work would be more easily attained through a permanent than a consulting engineer.

Mr Brown observed that the Wairarapa Board was paying its engineer £I,OOO a year. Such a sum would be a big hurdle for the Horowhenua Board, but it would be essential to have a good man.

Mr Gunning thought it was just possible that the Board might arrange with an adjoining district in (he appointment of a joint engineer.

“To put it in plain language,” said ,Mr Matheson, “we cannot, at any price, afford to have a dud.” There was a doubt in his mind as to whether the work was of sufficient magnitude to engage a permanent engineer, whereas he was sure good value could be obtained from a reliable consulting engineer.

Mr Kilsby remarked that the Public Works Department should be able to give all the information required. “Ifris in their interest to set us going,” he said. At this point the chairman replied that it was all right to go.to the Department with a list of questions, but of no use to go for general information.

Eventually it was decided that the question of the appointment of an engineer be left over until the next meeting after Mr Goldsmith’s return; also that if deemed necessary a committee of members of the .Board go to the Waikato and Thames districts for information.

The Chairman and Messrs Matheson and Seifert were appointed a committee to go into the question of the initial finances. —Chronicle.