“White Coal.”

The development and uses of hydro-electric energy in New Zealand are not confined to the big Government power works such as those on the Waikato River and at Lake Waikaremoana and Lake Coleridge. Many townships, and even some farms have their own convenient supplies for driving machinery and lighting and cooking. An example of the modernising of back-blocks settlements in this respect is the hydro-electrical system possessed by a small township at the head of Kawhia Harbour, West Coast. This little farming community centre, with a population of about a hundred, has harnessed a rapid stream that flows down from beautiful Pirongia Mountains, a forested range very nearly three thousand feet high. This self-contained generating plant of about 40 horse-power belongs to the township. Besides supplying power to work a dairy factory and to light the settlement with electricity, it heats and lights the public school—a great boon, particularly the heating, in a rural school. There is an open electric fireplace, and electric power is also used in making hot cocoa for the children during page 26 the winter months. So this little school is more down-to-date than those in some larger towns.

New Zealand is wonderfully fortunate in its abundance of natural water power, its thousands of rivers and streams, and the use of these for providing power, is increasing every year.