HYDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1921, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS.

PROVISIONS FOR THE FUTURE. SUGGESTED EXTRA PIPE-LINE. The suggested installation of a fourth pipe-line at the New Plymouth Borough hydro-electric works, with a view to meeting future requirements, was again before the Borough Council last night. The consulting engineers (Messrs. Blair Mason, Lee and Owen) wrote reviewing the position, staring: “We regret to note that ‘the council has no present intention of proceeding beyond its present scheme,’ as ..the history of all the large hydro-electric undertakings in both Tasmania and New Zealand proves beyond doubt, where electric power is available in quantity, industries are attracted to the district, and, further, that in the past the growth of the demand for power has increased at a greater rate than that of the capacity of the generating stations. Wo understand that a power board for the whole of Taranaki is favored by the Government, while the desire of the council is to remain outside and ba suppliers to the surrounding districts. That they may be able to do so for the next few years is no doubt true, but with the great prospects of the growth of New Plymouth itself, reflected as it will be in the advance of Taranaki in general, nothing, in our opinion, is more certain than that the demand will rapidly exceed the supply provided by the present authorised extensions. “To leave no provision for the economic increase in power from untapped sources—which, as far as we have investigated, are in the main existent only on the New Plymouth side of the mountain —is, we contend, not in the council’s interests; for not only does it limit its income from electricity supply, but jeopardises at least its moritl right to control the watersheds from which additional water and storage can be derived, and which must sooner or later be developed in the interests of Taranaki as a whole. It was with these facts in mind that we undertook, at our own expense, investigations of the upper reaches of the streams mentioned in our report of April 29. These investigations extend in all over a period of 12 days, during which period we ascertained, by' taking levels, that, as there set forth, certain streams could be diverted. Owing to the time involved we could not carry these investigations to their final conclusion, which would necessitate first surveys and estimates of a detailed nature to ascertain accurately the amount of water and storage area available, and whether sufficient water could be. obtained without interference with ripirian rights; and, secondly, an investigation of the cost per h.p. of the power that could be obtained therefrom. The question of whether such power is, or is not, economically available can be settled definitely only by engineering surveys, and opinions, whether based upon intimate knowledge of the district or given without such knowledge are alike irrelevant. It is for your council to decide whether or not such investigations are warranted at the present time, and we sympathise with their decision so far as it is based on financial considerations, but we’ regret that they should., be guided by mere opinion and influenced, as they evidently were, by anonymous letters appearing in the public Press.”

The letter was received, it being decided to proceed with the concreting of Tunnel No. 2.