HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1922, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

FARMERS SEEK 1 PROBABLE COST WANTED. ENQUIRY FROM BELL BLOCK. . Definite information is being sought amongst farmers and dairy companies! aa to the probable cost for the supply 1 of hydro-electric .power from the New Plymouth works and as to when tha power will be available. This question! was raised at Ul6 annua] meeting of th k Bell Block Dairy Company- last night. The chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett), ill answer to a question, said that the Tara ■ naki County Council had recently made' representations to the New Plymoutl 1 Borough Council asking that their elec- 1 trical engineer (Mr. R. H. Bartley) b< 1 allowed to address meetings throughout ■ the county, giving information as tc when the power would be available and/ what it would cost. He gathered, how! ■ ever, that the Borough Council consid ered the present time inopportune, ai i they had as yet no power to supply I The county, however, was anxious noi to be overlooked, and as the Borougl Council had jurisdiction over the whob county, they should guard the county’i 1 interest and see that their claim woi 1 not jumped. He understood that powej ‘ would be available for the by-roads un ’ der conditions. ( Mr. R. L. Parkin, a member of th< New Plymouth Borough Council, sail that the County Council’s application hai been considered by the Borough Council when K the matter had been left to Mr Bartley to give any information he fell disposed to, but it was felt it was to< early yet for him to give addresses It was hoped to have power availabli 1 early next year. Applications fol power had received from the Wai’ tara Borough Council and the Bell Blocl : Dairy Co., and the speaker thought tha( if the first application were granted there would be no difficulty in BeU? Block linking up with them. He suct' gested a canvas should be made between the terminus ’of the present electria wires and the Bell Block district to sea how many would be willing to. takq' light as well as power. This, ha thought, would have a good effect. Ha was certain if the Borough Council could see it was going to earn interest on tha money expended in erecting wires they would undertake the scheme of supply*} ing Bell Block. / Mr. Connett pointed out that soma authoritative estimate of -cost was ref quired before a canvass could be madej as this was the first "question prospective consumers sought information upon. The position briefly wee that both supplier and consumer wanted to know if the scheme would be * paying proposition. ■ The chairman said, in reply to .a quest tion, that it was hoped to join up withj Waitara. and secure hydro-electric power from New Plymouth in the early part of next year. As far as Mokau coal was concerned he did not know, of any information as to whether the there were opening up again. \