Hydro-Electricity For

Moresby

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, March 8.

Expenditure of £192,000 to provide a hydro-electric power supply at Port Moresby has been approved by the External Territories Department.

The Department’s decision was a sur prise to residents The scheme has been talked about for so long that most people did not expect it to become reality. It is significant perhaps that approval came so soon after the new Australian Liberal Government took office in Australia.

According to experts, it will take three or four years to put the scheme into operation. Surveys of the Laloki River for possible sites for the hydro station have been made and are continuing. The station will probably have a maximum generating capacity of 5,000 kilowatts— five times the capacity of the present power house. In the early stages, how ever, the Station’s capacity will be 3,000 kilowatts.

What residents are most interested in is the possibility of cheaper power.

Officials say that hydro-power will be cheaper but they will not give a definite estimate. Unless the administration changes its atitude, it seems that resi dents will have to wait for the coming of hydro-power before they get relief from heavy electricity costs. As far as the pre sent power supply is concerned, the position should improve in two or three months. Two generators for the power house a.re due to arrive from England late this month but it will take several weeks to install them.