HUNUA ELECTRICITY SCHEME

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 567, 17 September 1920, Page 4

HUNUA ELECTRICITY SCHEME

DOUBTS ON PRACTICABILITY. FURTHER DELEGATES' CONFERENCE. „H, the meeting of the Manukau County Council on Tuesday the clerk (Mr. E. Ashcroft) read a report of a meeting of delegates held at Papakura recently, when the possibilities of the Hunua Falls as a source for generating electricity for the surrounding districts was discussed. The report asked that the council appoint two delegates to attennd a further conference, of which the Manukau County Council was appointed convener.

The chairman, Cr. A. I). Bell, sug gested obtaining a report on the pos sibilities of the falls for the pur pose, and also the estimate of cosl of harnessing the falls.

Cr. Waters said he did not approve of the idea of sinking money into little tin-pot schemes, when one comprehensive scheme would serve the whole district. By the Eden electric scheme it was contended they could go as far south as Tuakau, or even to Mercer. If this was so, he did not approve of the suggestionn to cut in with a little scheme like Hunua. If the Eden scheme was going to be put into operation, he was confident that electricity could be generated much cheaper with the larger scheme than by a number of schemes.

Cr. Luke thought that as the council had gone so far they should continue at any rate to send delegates to another meeting. Cr. Howse said he believed that the Eden scheme and the Auckland city scheme were the two schemes likely to have the Government's approval. The chairman thought it would be worth while inquiring into the possibilities of the Hunua scheme. The scheme might be an economical one even though it would only serve a small district. Cr. Waters said he believed an engineer had given definite information about the Hunua stream to the effect, that the power was not there. The chairman said the report mentioned was for a scheme higher up the stream. Where it was proposed to harness the stream there was more water, and he believed ample power could be obtained.

The chairman and Cr. Waters were appointed to represent the council at the next conference to consider the advisability of harnessing the Hunua Falls for geeratig electricity. The delegates were empowered to procure details of the cost of obtaining a report on the possibilities of the falls, and tlie estimated cost of the whole scheme.

It was decided to hold the meeting at Papakura on September 27 at T.liu p.m. It was mentioned that the Papakura Town Board thought a report could be obtained for C2f>, but members considered th'|> amount ridiculous, and that £250 was more like the exact amount for which a report could be obtained.