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HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

DISCUSSION BY EOMONT COUNTY COUNCIL. This matter was brought up at the monthly meeting on Saturday as the result of a circular from the New Plymouth Borough Council, and one from Stratford advising that the annual meet, ing of the Taranaki League would be held at Stratford on October 18. The chairman said that the only possible source at present was from the 8000 h.p. at New Plymouth, but in five years they would have to look to Waikato. N Cr. Green said he understood that any plate approved by the Government wouui be taken over when the larger scheme was put through. The chairman said that each district will erect the lines at their own expense, but these lines will be part and parcel of the big scheme. He said that the clerk believed clause 146 of the Counties Act allowed any county to carry on works for the benefit of the whole district. Cr. Campbell said that assuming the costs were £7OO per mile, Egmont would have to raise £70,000. ' The chairman said, in reply to Cr. O'Brien, that there must be storage capacity, and that a varying stream such as Stony river would not do. Interest and depreciation would be charged to individual U3ers, and therefore there was no need for tlie county to worry about it. . Cr. Campbell said it was a very b g question, and he considered any deficiency would have to be made up out of rates. The chairman said if a supply was required 55 per cent, of the ratepayers could oblige a council to go with the scheme. There was no doubt non-users could not be charged. Cr. O'Brien said that a rate would ba struck over non-users' land. "But," said the chairman, "it may be Struck; it need not be collected." j "If," answered Cr. O'Brien, "a rate is] struck by -law, it oan be enforced by law." The chairman said he considered that the earlier they got in the better, and the sooner they would get the benefit. Canterbury has got a ten years' start. Cr. Green: If we are not prepared to act for ourselves, let us support the New Plymouth scheme. The chairman: The loss is not to exceed 4 to 5 per cent.; 8000 h.p. is estimated as the minimum summer power Cr. Sinclair urged strongly that the Government scheme should be support el, but it would not deter the New Plymouth or the Opunake schemeThe chairman said that Waihi had got a scheme which produced power at a much lower price than could be got nowadays. They were live men ana wjrs now supplying Waikato. The 8000 hp. from the Ta'ranaki scheme would not supply the whole of the province; £2l per annum would give power for milking machines, traction, thrashing, light, sewing machine and washing machine, and all conveniences required. Cr. O'Brien: How about the Lake Coleridge scheme letting Christchurch down and leaving them in darkness ? Cr. Green: Oh! that is what might happen to any scheme. Aot of God, in fact. It was resolved that a letter be sent approving of the conference and supporting the scheme, and regretting that the Council was unable to send a delegate. DEPUTATION FROM OPUNAKE TOWN BOARD. A deputation from the Opunake Town Board was welcomed by the chairman. He said there was not much information available. The question to be discussed was the possibility of getting power sufficient for years to come. The county had no thought of opposition to the Town Board, but he considered that 75 h.p. would do little beyond the town. The question was asked at Stratford that if it were found that power should *ost s}d per unit, and they could get power from New Plymouth at ljd, what would they advise, and the Stra/tford town clerk replied: "Scrap the local plant at once." The big scheme would make power available for every £arm in the pro. vince. Mr. Rogers said their expert had assured them that power could be provided at £9 per h.p. or £l2 per kilowatt, suitable for a district with a radius of seven miles. They would have a plant sufficient to deal with the Town Board area. The chairman opined that they would require a license to sell outside that area. In reply to Cr. O'Brien. Mr. kogers said that double the arranged storage would not generate sufficient for twice the area. He said they would have 113 h.p. gross, and as the bulk of the power would be required at night time for lighting, they would have power available during the day. Cr. O'Brien, said that the interests of the Opunake scheme would not clash with any other. The chairman said he had to consider the whole of the county and preserve their interests. He considered that the end of the business would be that until the Government scheme was ready the cheapest power would win out, but when the former came there would be one uniform rate. Till then permission for any scheme must be procured from the Government. Cr. Sinclair said he understood that New Plymouth professed to serve the whole of Taranaki, and that they could give as good as the Lake Coleridge scheme. Mr. Parry, the previous Government engineer, said the Taranaki scheme was the best put before him. The chairman advised the use ol a Dissel engine. He was confident the Gov-ernment-scheme was coming at an early date. He held no brief for New Plymouth, and if Opunake could supply the district he would support them. Cr. Sinclair said what they had to consider was where they can get the cheapest power, and then support that schemi. The chairman said he felt the Council were all in complete sympathy with the local scheme and would support it if possible. Continuing, he said that he understood New Plymouth could work at. such a figure as would give power at Id per unit. Stratford have a Diessel engine, and have ordered another. The town clerk had told him that their absolute cost was 3d per unit, without allowing for depreciation or interest. There was, however, no reason why Opunake should not go on with their own scheme. Cr. O'Brien said that if certain expenditure would give the power here, the Council should back the local scnome. There could be no possible clashing. The engineer who was consulted by Opunake was an eminent man. and on his reputation was based the scheme. The chairman said he was very glad to have had an opportunity to discuss the question with the Town Board representatives, and that nothing but good would come of such a meeting. The deputation then withdrew.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19191015.2.47

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1919, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,116

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY. Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1919, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY. Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1919, Page 6

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