130 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Sept. 
main point, however, is not whether this particular fall will yield the 
power and can be developed for the amount estimated, but that there 
exist several power-sources of considerable magnitude conveniently situated 
in the neighbourhood of deep-water harbours, which can be cheaply 
developed. I do not think, however, we should be justified in assuming 
that the cost of development of any of these would be less than the cost 
of development of some of the Norwegian water-powers. Power on a 
large scale of 100,000 horse-power or thereabout in the Norwegian fiords 
is reputed to cost only 16s. per liorse-power per annum, as compared with 
a loca estimate of 15s. per horse-power per annum from the Bowen Falls. 
I am of the opinion that the former is understated and the latter under¬ 
estimated. However, the point under discussion is not whether the 
figures given are below the actual in one case and below what is probable 
in the other, but that New Zealand sounds have no material advantage 
over the Norwegian fiords in the matter of the cost of development of 
their water-power sources. If such a superiority exists as the result of 
natural configuration, which I doubt, it will be more than counterbalanced 
by the additional labour-cost and the extra cost of machinery. In any 
case it cannot be affirmed that in the fiords of Norway, where water-power 
is being utilized for the manufacture of nitrates from the air, the hydraulic 
development is much more expensive owing to the configuration of the 
country than would be the case in the West Coast Sounds. 
The Australian Market for Nitrogenous Fertilizers. 
It is assumed or implied by supporters of the proposal to manufacture 
nitrogenous fertilizers in New Zealand that there is a good prospective 
market for these commodities in New Zealand and Australia. The fact 
is that the demand for this class of fertilizer is remarkably small in both 
countries, both in an absolute sense and relatively to the demand for 
phosphates and potash. In 1914 the total quantity of artificial fertilizers 
imported into New Zealand amounted to 122,754 tons, the declared value 
being £394,192. Out of this the total quantity of nitrogenous manures 
amounted to only 1,191 tons, valued at £15,747. Likewise in 1913 the 
total quantity of artificial fertilizers imported into Australia was 202,815 
tons, valued at £587,412, of which only 3,351 tons, valued at £37,390, 
consisted of nitrogenous material. Adding both together we have 4,542 
tons of nitrogenous fertilizer out of a total of 325,567 tons, or a proportion 
of less than one-seventieth. This disparity is due in part to the com¬ 
paratively small proportion of wheat or grain land to pastoral land, and 
possibly in part to the natural properties of New Zealand and Australian 
soils ; and on this point the Department of Agriculture should be consulted. 
The facts are that the present market is a small one, and the huge 
preponderance of phosphate manures seems to point towards the conclusion 
that nitrates are not such a vital necessity to this country at the present 
time. It may, however, be alleged that the price of Chile nitrate, by 
which the price of all other nitrogenous stuff is regulated, is too high for 
general use in New Zealand ; but this in turn is due to the small demand, 
which in 1914 amounted to only 436 tons. In spite of the small demand, 
however, the f.o.b. prices in New Zealand compare favourably with the 
f.o.b. prices in Liverpool, where deliveries are made on a huge scale. 
Nevertheless, the declared value in New Zealand in 1914 was £11 15s., 
compared with f.o.b. prices in Liverpool which usually vary between £9 
and £10 per ton ; so that the price of Chile nitrate cannot be regarded as 
excessive, especially having regard to the small quantity. 
