WATER POWER.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 253, 24 October 1919, Page 8

WATER POWER.

THE DOMINION SCHEME. ' ■i COST OVER SIX MILLIONS. j i , IIORAHORA EXTENSION. ! ] (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") ! WELLINGTON, this day. i The proposals of the Go-vcrwment for t development of the water power of the f Dominion were outlined 'by the ) of Public Wofke (Sir Win. Fraeer) in • the Public Worke Statement, presented ] to the House of 'Representatives last J evening. Statutory authority ie being asked for the 'hydro-electric development of the Mangahao and the Ar.a- ' pun! schemes, and further extensions of Lake Coleridge; also for the purchase of Horahora, the extension thereof, and j j the erection of transmission lines, amounting in all to .€0,830,(100. | Tile following are the appropriations for the current year, with details of laet year's expenditure, under the Electric

Tlic vote inoltiiice salaries, travelling expenses, war bonus, and all atlier' expenses. j LAKE COLERIDGE. The results from the I>alce Coleridge j undertaking continue to be increasingly remunerative, said the Minister. The not revenue for the year ended March 1 31 exceeded the eiwt of working the scheme by £20,180. The interest on ! capital amounted to £10.(i!>2. leaving a I balance towards depreciation account of £4.404. The result for the six months | ended September 30. l!>lii. is that the j revenue exceeded the estimate for that period by £2.804, and the expenditure fell short of the estimate by £045, showing a net gain beyond the estimate of £3,600. If the returns for the second cix months are on the came scale, then on 'March 31, 11)20, there "will have been received as net revenue more than sufficient to defray both interest and depre- i ciation charges, viz... G per cent on total capital cost. As soon as it is possible ■ to erect the plant neeeeeary to generate the full power available at Lake Coleridge the net receipts from this undertaking will largely increase. ARAPITNI AND MANGAHAO. At Arapuni ii shaft is oclnjj sunk on oaoh side of the river at the site of the proposed dam, to be followed by a tunnel connecting these shafts, with the view of testing the stability of the strata •which will Lave to support the foundations and wings of the dum. An soon as the engineer-in-chief is satisfied from j thcßC linvestigatrone that it will be safe ; to proceed, the main work will at onco be started and carried to completion with all possible dispatch. At Mnngaliao, since April 1, the construction of the road to give access to the various sections of the work -bus been pushed on. The formation hae been completed beyond the central reservoir to the top of the hill overlooking the Mungahao, and ft start is now being made with the metalling. A complete eteam-generating power plant of 3CO 'horso-power capacity has been .ordered to supply power to the machinery required in the construction of the tunnels and other works. Arrangements have been made to establish a small sawmill on the site to cut the requisite timber. Difficulty has been found in obtaining a supply of suitable labour. Temporary boardinghouees have been established for the men employed, and plans are ready for the erection of huts and dining and recreation rooms when timber is available. THE HOKAHORA PURCHASE. The hydro-electric works at Tlorahora have been purchased from the Waihi Ooldmining Company on satisfactory terms. The amount of power which can now be developed is 8000 horse-power. A maximum of 3325 horse-power has to be supplied to the vendors, leaving 4075 horse-power available for distribution throughout the surrounding districts. The present available supply of power can be increased by erecting two more ! turbine;, and steps will be taken to give effect to this as soon as practicable. Statutory provision for the full cost of ' establishing these works will -bo mado j this session. Provision will also be made; for the completion of plans for the erection of hydro-electric works at Waikarolr.oana, and the survey of transmissionlines from there to Gisborne and Napier, and thence to AVairarapa. The intention is, ns soon as labour and funds are available, that the works at Waikaremoana should be commenced. An equal sum will also b 0 provided for elaborating schemes for the South Island, and. similarly, it is intended when labour and funds are available that such schemes will be set in operation. Tt would not be just that all parts of the Dominion, other than those proposed to be served by the Mangabao, Arapuni, Lake Coleridge, and iloraliora plants, should have to await the completion of those schemes before having their respective districts provided In view, however, .of the difficulty in procuring labour it would be manifestly improper to protend that such large new schemes as Waikaremoana and whatever may be decided on for the South Island could be undertaken at present. COMPLETION OF SURVEYS. The surveys of the ".Tangaiiao and Waikiito Ixiver.s and Lake Waikaremoana have been completed to a point enabling definite proposals to be submitted for the development of each of these sources of power. After a very exhaustive investigation of the alternative methods of general distribution, a complete scheme has been drawn up for the North Island, consisting of a network.of high-tension transmission lines covering practically the whole island, With 50,000, 33,000,' and 11,000-volt reticulations to all the main centres; and supplying tho country districts en refute. Thi,s system will Ultimately be supplied with power from the three main power-houses at Mangahao (24,000 horsepower), Arupuni (90.000 horse-power), and Waikaremoana (40,000 horse-power), with connections to the existing jjitwcr

stations—Horahora Rapids (8400 horsepower), and Wairua Falls (3300 horse-1 power). During the year the surveys have been | carried on of the transmission lines from Mangahao to Wellington, Wanganui, Dannevirke, and Wairarapa, and from Arapuni to Auckland. The work at Mangahao was commenced with the construction of tho roads and, at Arapuni by driving trial levels and shafts to thoroughly explore the foundations of the proposed dam. The extension of the reticulation of Lake Coleridge to the districts surrounding Christehurch has been pushed on to the limited extent permitted by the restricted amount of power available, but plans are in hand for further extensions as soon as the war restrictions permit, particularly to tho Akaroa Peninsula and to South Canterbury, Ashburton, and j Timartt. I An exhaustive scheme for the supply! of the South Island on the same lina? as that laid out for the North Island is in | hand, but owing to pressure of work and j the limited stall' available it has not yet! been completed. A preliminary investi-j' gation has been made, indicating the | main lines on 'which it will be laid out. I

Supply Account: — Appro- Kxpeiiprlntlons, Attnre. 1010-20. 1018-10. £ £ Arapuiil scheme 2.-0.000 — MauKalino srhonir 230.0'J — Itorti horn scheme «xtenslone 00,000 — Lnko Cok'rlrtBC nclienii'— New works SO.OOO -2S.-200 Purchases <>f material lor stools KIOOO Cr. Working cxponsps. maintenance. ropalrK, etc. 20,(Kio IS.llii Surroys nn<\ Investigation of other schemes— North tslunit 20.CHK) — Suiilh Islmul 20,000 — Totals 710,000 37,733 Loss cetlniatPil crPrtltfi on capital nrrmint S.000 7,SS;i £702.(VX) £20,870 ,upp Total rrqulrpil for c-ur-rent yeaV £GO0,CO0 —