NEW POWER SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1921, Page 3

NEW POWER SCHEME.

NORTH TARANAKI PROPOSAL. MOKAU COAL PROJECT. DETAILS SENT TO GOVERNMENT. An ambitious scheme to provide power for North Taranaki by utilising Mokau coal was recently placed before the Clifton County Council, which decided to forward details to the Government. The council has now sent the following letter to the Minister of Public M’orks: “I have the honor, by direction of the council, to submit details of an electric power scheme which it is claimed will : solve the question of cheap electric power for North Taranaki. For some time past efforts have been made to explore the resources of this district with a view to obtaining hydro-electric power, but, so far. without success. The New Plymouth hydro scheme was at one time looked upon as a possible source of supply, but it appears very apparent that its limited resources will be taxed to the limit to supply the wants of its own particular district , and ! little or no hope can be hold out from that quarter. •‘Hopes were also entertained that the Waitara river might possibly supply the needs of the district to a limited extent. The Waitara Chamber of Commerce recently wrote to you on the matter and has now received a reply, which only confirms the opinion held by many | here that the cost of developing even a i limited hydro scheme would be dispro- ! portionate to the amount of power . obtainable. It would appear, therefore, that the only hope for North Tara- ! naki would be to await the development of the Government Jiydro policy, but in view of the enormous demand which is sure to be made there is little chance of this district ever participating in the benefits accruing to a comprehensive hydro-electric scheme.

2*.At this stage a proposal has been submitted to my council which appears pregnant with great possibilities, and which, if carried out. would be productive of immense benefit to this district. The proposal claims to solve the problem of cheap power which depends so largely on the two factors, (If <*ost per k.w. installed; (2) adaptability of extension from time to time as the demand for power increases. It is proposed to utilise the immense coal deposits at Mokau for the generation of electricity. The proposed station would have an initial installation of two 5000 k.w. turbo-alternators, approximately 13,000 h.p.. with provision for extension to an ultimate capacity of 20,000 k.w., i.e., 26,000 h.p. It is proposed to carry the reticulation from the Mokau powei I station along the line of the Main North Road as far as the Waitara district to I che south, and in a northerly direction to Te Kuiti. The power could be supplied to the different dairy companies, each receiving sufficient for its own area and retail the current for lighting and power purposes, similarly to the method adopted both in the Canterbury nnd Thames Valley areas. “Tn the district from Mokat to midway between Waitara and New Plymouth there are at present 11 dairy companies operating and it is considered that cheap electric power would be eagerly adopted to replace the small i.e power plants now used, for milking purposes whoso estimated running costs are stated to approximate 20s per cow per annum. There is a very large area of undeveloped land suitable for dairying purposes in the district and the provision of cheap power would undoubtedly give a great impetus to the dairying industry. As evidence of the vital importance of a, power supply to the dairyman, 1 may state it is commonly known that the associated dairy companies are I contemplating the expenditure of no less a sum than £2SO,(KM) to acquire coal bearing land at Ohura to ensure a supply of coal for fuel purposes, but the Mokau coal measures with facilities for sea f transport would prove a tar more favorable proposition from an economic standpoint. “I enclose details of the proposed ‘scheme as supplied to mv council, ami I am directed to ask if you will kindly give the matter your very earnest consideration, in view of the fact that outside this proposal there appears little hope of North Taranaki ever enjoying the benefits derived from cheap electric power, whilst the installation of such power station would form an important and reliable link in the Government scheme of hydro-electric power for the North Island of Zealand.*’