Notes.

A company styled “The Waikohu Hydro-Electric Co. Ltd.,” with F. de Lautour as sponsor, set about to establish hydro-electric works in the Waikohu district in 1920. When the Poverty Bay Electric Power Board was established the company made overtures in the hope that the State might either take over its scheme or else assist it with finance to complete it. Both requests were rejected, mainly on the ground that the productive capacity of the plant during dry spells was likely to prove inadequate. The project was then abandoned.

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In July, 1925, residents of Tolaga Bay obtained the benefits of electric light generated by a plant installed by Uawa County Council at a cost of £6,130. Under date 14 March, 1944, 109 ratepayers of Uawa and 283 of Waiapu petitioned the Government to include those counties in the Poverty Bay Power Board District. It was found that a transmission line, etc., from Patutahi to Tokomaru Bay would cost £95,000, a “backbone” line from Tolaga Bay to Ruatoria £42,000, and the distribution lines £120,000. The project is still (1949) in abeyance.