136 
The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Sept. 
Experimental Work at Lake Coleridge. 
It is suggested that experimental work should be conducted with the 
surplus power obtained from Lake Coleridge. There is no difficulty in 
regard to this suggestion, and the Department is willing at all times to 
supply power for this purpose and to aid incpiirers by every possible means. 
Considerable advantage has already been taken of the Government’s 
services in this respect, and the number of estimates supplied and advices 
given is too numerous to mention. Considerable pioneering work has 
been done in connection with pulverizing limestone, pulverizing rock phos¬ 
phates, preparation of calcium carbide and nitrogenous fertilizers, red 
oxide paint, caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, the manufacture of steel 
castings by electric furnace, and electric ploughing. Red oxide paint is 
now being manufactured by electrolysis, the current being obtained from 
Lake Coleridge. Preparations are being made, and are well advanced, 
for the manufacture of caustic soda and hydrochloric acid, and also for 
the manufacture of steel castings, by the electric furnace. 
Further, the Department has under consideration, as already men¬ 
tioned, the establishment of a nitric-acid plant, and has been in communi¬ 
cation with the High Commissioner with a view to obtaining a furnace for 
the purpose. It is not, however, intended to experiment on an untried 
apparatus, the intention being to obtain a type of furnace which is in 
commercial use and experiment in a tentative way with a view to testing 
the market and ascertaining the requirements of the New Zealand market. 
I would not recommend the Government to waste time and money upon 
testing a new type of apparatus which has not been fully developed 
elsewhere. There is really no need for this, as any apparatus which is 
promising and has meritorious features would not remain long without 
being tried out on a commercial scale in Great Britain. 
Issue of a License to a Company for the Development of 
Bowen Falls. 
Although it is not deemed advisable that the Government should set 
up works for the manufacture of nitrogenous fertilizers on one of the 
sounds and develop the local water-power for the purpose, there is jprima 
facie no reason why a license should not be granted to a syndicate for 
the purpose. Regular machinery exists for the purpose of granting licenses 
for the development of water-power under the control of the Minister of 
Public Works, in accordance with which licenses have been granted to 
the Waihi Gold-mining Company, entitling it to obtain power from the 
Horahora Falls, on the Waikato River ; to the Dominion Portland Cement 
Company, to obtain power from the Wairoa Falls, on the Wairoa River ; 
and a large number of licenses for smaller amounts of power. 
Whether or not a license should be granted in the present instance as 
requested is a matter of policy, the responsibility for which rests with the 
Minister of Public Works. Personally I see no objection to a license being 
granted, provided that satisfactory assurances are forthcoming that the 
rights granted will be properly made use of, and that the financial arrange¬ 
ments are such as to guarantee that the works will be proceeded with. 
The conditions under which a license is granted are very easy of ful¬ 
filment. The promoters must provide a plan showing the location of the 
works, and later on supply such drawings as are necessary to enable the 
Department to judge of the suitability and sufficiency of the works in the 
interest of public safety. A rental of one-twentieth of a penny per unit 
