HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Shannon News, 21 February 1922, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

FIRST MEETING OF HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

The fir&t meeting of the newlyelected Horowhenua Hydro-electric Power Board was held yesterday, when there were present: Messrs. G. A. .Monk, A. Seifert and A. A. Brown (Horowhenua), C. Kilshy (Otaki), F.

Whihley (Foxton), W. H. Gunning K Shannon), A. I. McKay (Huitt), vv. Barher (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 that post. '

On taking the chair, Mr Monk observed that within two years, if the Minister’s assurance could be accept-

ed, Mangahao power would be avail-

able, and that being! the base, 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 he 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. To-day Mr Goldsmith was leaving for Auckland on his annual holidays, and on the return journey he. had promised to look iii at • Cambridge and Te Awamutu, where similar boards were already under way in connection with the Horahora scheme, and gather any information that he might deem of value for the guidance of the Horowdienua 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

Mi' Goldsmith be re-imburs&d for bis - services by the payment of 50 guineas. This could not be dealt with, however, until the board had funds to work on. It was very much to- the credit of the Provisional Conunittee 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 net exceed £2OO. Regarding the mechanical part, .Mr Seifert considered that continuity and smoothness of work would be more easily attained through a permanent than a consulting engineer. Mr Brown observed that the Wairarapa Board was paying its engineer £IOOO a year. Such a sum would be a big hurdle for the Horowlienua Board, but it would be essential to have a good man. Mr Gunning thought it was just jjossible that the hoard might arrange with an adjoining district in the 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 mag-

nitude to engage a permanent engineer, whereas he was sure good value could he obtained from a reliable consulting engineer. Mr Kilsby remarked that the Public Works Department should be able lo give all the information required. “It is in their interest to set us going,” lie 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 oi the appointment of an engineer he left oyer 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.