MANGAHAO HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 26 April 1920, Page 3

MANGAHAO HYDRO-ELEC-TRIC SCHEME.

LOCAL BODY CONFERENCE. FAILURE OP GOVERNMENT ENGINEER TO BE PRESENT. j A conference of local body delegates was held at Levin on Saturday to disI cuss matters in connection with the j Mangahao hydro-electric scheme. Present: Messrs G. A. Monk. a. A. Broad- ! belt. P. W. Goldsmith (Horowhenua County Council), V. M. MathcsOß, F.

Parker, and 15. K. Gardener (Levin Borough Council), J. P. Brandon and 11, _\icolsoii (Otaki Town Board), HUnt, Barber. Drew, and Sir James Wilson (Manawatu County Council), !-'. G. Cooper and W. J. Howell (Hutt County Council), Chrystall (Foxton Borough Council i, and Murdoch and ildui McMillan (Shannon Borough

Council). | Mr Monk, who was in the chair, e j tended a hearty welcome to the del I gates, and stated that his Council, aft< . due consideration of the hydro-electri . chemc, had decided to call represent: fives of local "bodies together. Speal ing on behalf of his Council, he sai lhey felt it necessary that a stai : hould be made to do something to tak I the current when switched on by th Government. Personally he though tho current would not bo ready lor fiv years. Others thought less, but he con tended local bodies must be in a posi (ion to take it ns soon as it was avail able. The "Wellington Council was al ready in the position of being able t< take it. but the local bodies representee were not. They would have to be in s position to say "we want, a thousand Imrse-power," or whatever power was needed, when the Government offered it. Jt was only natural that the body that was ready would get the advantage. Personally, he thought the power available would-be short of requirements, and it was therefore absolutely necessary to be ready to switch on at the proper time. There was no doubt bill that aaxmills and the farming community would desire power, provided it could be secured at a reasonable rate. If a board were constituted, said Mr Monk, they could have a consulting . ugincer who could act for the whole of the district, and not as was done in (he South Island, whore there was :i .consulting engineer—probably the same individual—for each district. In ihis district there was. perhaps with iln< exception of a portion of the Hutt listricl and Manawatu, a community if interest, aud he thought it was advisable to consider the formation of an L decffie.nl board.

M r Cooper said he thought the Epani and Mungaroa districts could be served better from this district. The track i, Waikanae to the Hutt. which was nearly complete, could be used. Ho also considered if one board of control was constituted it would bo beneficial. Mr Monk said they had studied the mailer front a community of interest point of view, and he thought Petone and such districts would be served from Wellington. A line could lie constructed from Wellington to the Hutt. at a niudi cheaper rate than could be done from Ihis district. There war no doubt that electricity was going to pay and should prove a commercial success, more so if handled by a compact dis-

>ir James Wilson askod if uny investigation hud bs-tn nude of the Ohttu river, and stated with Filch a river it : .hould be advisable for Levin and Otakj to take on the matter of power for themselves. He considered there v.,iuld be a big demand on such a scheme, and said if Manawatu was 30 situate they would act on their own. He considered if such u scheme was put in hand Otaki, (.rein, and adjacent town? could bo supplied with necessary power for lighting within two years. Thin would be far better than waiting for the Government, and then perhaps be cut out, The Chairman said nothing had been don.- relative to investigation of the river in question, it being simply thought that when the Mangahao scheme was available it would be made use of. The district was hopeful of setting power, but they would have to be ready. If power was not available from Manguhao then the district's attention could be turned to the Ohau or Waikanae rivers. There was no doubt but that power could be easily got from the latter river.

Sir James Wilson said that for £IO.OOO at Maagaweka that district had secured a good service, likewise at Tab hape. In Wangaaui two schemes were suggested, oue being to dam the wangauui river, while it had oven been sug: gested that Manawatu act on its own. Mr Parker considered the. matter one tor expert advice, but, nevertheless, considered if a compact district was formed expenses would be less than if by separate unit;. He was a believer of the district scheme, which would give them increased voting power. Mr Howell agreed that the district scheme was advisable, but he considered much hinged on as to where they would be able to tap the wire. Possibly they might be able to distribute from each town. Mr Chrystall, after commending the Horowhenua Council on its enterprise in calling the meeting, said his Council had tinder review the formation of en electrical board, and added there would have to be a basis of rating arrived at. Tney should guard against making she board of control too large.

The Chairman said a loan would have *■-■ be rsi-ed .and a special rate struck, but -till he hoped the rate would never have ;., be collected, the interest being raid ry.it '.: revenue. If ihey tailed to do this tne-y did not want hydrc.-elec-Mr Howell said he understood that the Government would ffell power at the same rite at .Shanncn as elsetrhert —that the cost of distribution wmld be evened out. Sir James Wilson ?:ud he thought th«

Government would charge per medium j of the meter.

' The Chairman said he regretted that J an officer of the Public Works Depart - | meat was not present. A promise had ' been received that one would be sent I along. In view of his absence the j meeting had got at a dead end. In I view of the circumstances he thought a committee might be set'ttp to go into ! the matter of forming the district. After further discussion, Mr Howell moved that u committee be set up and an appointment made to get all possible information, the committee to re- j port at a further conference of local | bodies. j

An amendment by Mr Matheson that the conference adjourn sine die, and the matter be left to the Horowhenua Council to get details from the Public Works engineer, was carried.