AFGHANISTAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1919, Page 5

AFGHANISTAN.

i ARRIVAL OF PEACE DELEGATES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received July 20, 1 a.m. Allahabad, July 25. The Afghan peace delegates arrived at the British lines on Thursday morning.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FAIR PROGRESS* ONLY. MANGAHAO HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME. LEAGUE'S ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report of,| the Mangahao Hydro-Electric League:— "In laying before you the league'B report on the proceedings of the last twelve months, your committee feels it cannot congratulate itself and the league generally on the progress made'towards attaining its' objects, viz., the pushing forward to early completion the supply of electric power from the Mangahao at Shannon. "When ,the league was formed the project was still, to a great extent, in embryo form, and nothing more than preliminary surveys, etc., had been done. During the past year the project has been endorsed by ,thc Government, and, after considerable urging, a start has been made on the construction works. Much valuable time has been lost in starting the preliminary roading, aud it will be necessary to use every means to sec the works are pushed ahead as fast as possible. Your committee is glad to note j that fair progress is now being made, between thirty and forty men being employed on the formation of the new rond to the upper dam, contracts for the whole of which have been surveyed. The work is also being taken in hand ot improving the present road by removing corners, etc., so as to allow of heavy machinery being taken on to the site of the dams, etc. It is certain, however, that a much larger labor force must be employed if the work is to be completed in anything approximating the period allowed by Mr. Parry, viz., three years, and your committee recommends members of the league to bring all possible jpressu' - to bear upon the Government through the local members of Parliament and, in every other way possible to see that' tiie 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 do not desire to do any local reticulation, preferring this to 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 more especially to rural districts, but" boroughs not at present reticulated for electric power and light will be well advised also' not to leave this matter too long in abeyance. The amount of material required, especially poles, will be enormous, and it would be well to he well advanced, so as to ensure no delay in utilising the power. In this connection, it may be advantageous to contiguous local bodies to act together, and their attention is therefore . cabled to section 3 of the Electric Power Boards Act of last session, which provides an easy method of so combining."