CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1921, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —As a ratepayer I hav- taken a great interest in the above schem?. I have followed the reports of the council meetings on the matter, and have gone out. to inspect the two tunnels and other works in connection with the .h-’ienn. and have come to the conclusion that the decision of the council in refusing to Irtve a further survey made for any possib'e larger supply of water that may be available, is. to say the least, shortsighted. My reason for coming to that conclusion is as follows:—(.1) After inspecting the work, 1 am of opinion that if a survey is decided upon, there is no need to hurry up the work. The present No. 1 tunnel is not yet completed, aud will take some considerable time to complete. (2) That the pipe line from No. 1 tunnel to the race to feed No. 2 tunnel is not yet put in hand. This will take quite a long time to eompl?t°. (3) That No, 2 tunnel, which has only been driven for some six chains, :»nd which is now being concreted, will occupy some weeks. (4) That the driving of No. 2 tunnel can he proceeded with when the necessary arrangements can be completeii with the owner of the land which it g>es through. This, 1 understand, has not been secured. (5) That the extra cost to enlarge No. 2 tunnel is only some £4OOO, instead of £B5OO, and should not stand in tne way of the council carrying out the work. (6) That as this is the only business proposition that the town of New Plymouth hag that returns a profit, it -should be carried out and completed to its maximum capacity, and T firmly believe that every pound that is required for this work will be forthcoming in good time. (7) That a meeting of ratepayers should be called for the purpose u-f giving the council an of their willingness to he.lp in this groat undertaking. (8) That, one councillor has said that if the extra water was secured it would only supply 1000 h.p. If so, 1 understand that our present scheme nf JOOt) h.p. gives an annual profit of some £1)000. Surely another £9OOO profit i would be of great value by way of payf ing off our hydro electric loan. (9) That i if this larger scheme is undertaken, then a large hydro-electric power board could be set up to embrace the whole of South and North Taranaki, and that each pro vincial district is asked to supply, by way of a loan, sufficient money 1o com plete the whole work as from date. I feel quite certain that if each district was approached re providing a portion of the necessary money at the current rate of interest, that a loan would be taken up without any trouble. I am willing to offer to the council my cheque for £lO for ten debentures free of interest for twelve months, or more, as an earnest of my faith in the larger scheme. Hoping that a thousand others will do the same.—l am, etc., A RATEPAYER.