POWER IN SOUTH ISLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1921, Page 10

POWER IN SOUTH ISLAND.

EXPANSION IN CANTERBURY. OTAGO SCHEME DECIDED. After a tour of the South Island from Blenheim to the Bluff, occupying a month and extending over 2700 miles, the Minister for public Works has returned to WelliAipn. Interviewed in Wellington, Air. ffiates said he was satisfied that good progress was being made in the right direction. The Lake Cpleridge station, &vhich supplies Christchurch and nonh Canterbury, is being extended : as raipidly as possible by the diversion of additional water and the installation of plant, and it will be able presently to overtake the demand in the city and supply power that Jias. been promised to South Canterbury’ The demand for electrical power jn Christchurch has become very large, and it is obvious now that the Lake Coleridge installation has given a marked impetus to the industrial life of the city. The success of the Government’s).initia) int stallation has been proved abundantly.

Dunedin is developing 8000 horse-power at Waipori, and is arranging td' double this power at the same sotirce.’ The Dunedin people discussed with the Minister plans for the harnessing, of the very abundant power that is available at Lakes Hawea and Wanaka. But it has been decided definitely\not to proceed with works at these points at pre-, sent. The power is, there, but it Would require very long transmission lines, and the more convenient Waipori installation seems to be capable of meeting all the requirements of Dunedin for some time to come.

The Southland people undertook their own scheme, which is for the development of power at Monowai, and they have made a certain amount of progress. But their financial arrangements did not work out as. expected, and the Government, under legislation of last session, came to their assistance with' a guarantee. The work is to proceed now under the supervision of the Public Works Department, and the A’linister anticipates that good progress will be made. The installation is in the hands of capable engineers, and is being backed heartily by the people of the district. Mr. Coates remarked that his department attached great importance to linking up the three southern installations. Their weakness, while they, stiol alone, was the lack of stand-by plant. Any single scheme was liable to interruption by accident or storm. But when the three schemes had been linked, with suitable sub-stations, they would support one another, and give a fairly good guarantee of continuous service.