CURRENT FOR ISTHMUS

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 212, 7 September 1922, Page 3

CURRENT FOR ISTHMUS

A SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT QUICK START WITH HORAHORA LINE. FAVOURABLE TERMS FOR BOARD. Tlie interview which the deputation representing the Auckland Power Board had with the Minister of Public Works in Wellington on the subiect of getting an early supply of Horahora current to supplement the board's own production was eminently satisfactory, and the members of it. Messrs. W. J. Holdsworth (chairman), E. H. Potter, S. J. Harbutt. and A. Wyllie (the board's engineer) returned to Auckland this morning Veil pleased with the result of their mission. In discussing tlie arrangement arrived at with the Minister, Mr. Hohlswortli explained that tbe Auckland Board has, in effect, obtained everything it sought from the Minister, who, after going into all the aspects of the matter, has promised that the transmission line from j Horahora shall lie put in hind forthwith. It is estimated that it will be completed within IH months of the present date. '■' T he deputation," added th.i board's, chairman, "agreed to accept the standard rates under our existing contract with tbe Government for the Arapuni simply, with no conditions whatever. This is a marke,] contrast to what the department endeavoured tn impose upon the board. Tiie agreement which the department wished the board to enter into would have meant a minimum expenditure of £10.000 per annum for current whether it was used nr not, whereas at the outset the probable income to the Board from this current tvouicl only have been some £10,000. This proposal the board could n-it entertain, and made I that very definite to the Minister, with the re.-ult that af'er prolonged negotiations we were able to get wjiat we consider to lie most favourable terms." AMPLE SI'PPLIES IX NEAR Fl TURE. "The arrangement arrived at with the Mini-ter will enable the board to supply from Newmarket westward to Onehunga and from New-market southwards right to Papakura, including all the growing industrial area about Penrose, Westfleld, and the neighbourhood. It should be I clearly understood that although it will ' •>>e IS -months before the line from Hnraliora is completed, this docs not mean ! a wait of IS months before the board ! is able to supply Onehunga and the in-j dustrial area round Penrose with current. The reticulation of these areas , will be pushed on upnn the arrival of ] n~ateri;ils, and current will then be supplied from the King's wharf station! until tbe Horabnra current is available, j As a matter of fact, as soon as the addi- ; tion- now under way at tbe King's wharf station arc completed, ample; power will be at command to meet all i immediate requirements. With tbe additional generating p'flnt some 20.000 kiln- ] watts will be generated at tbe King's, wharf station alone, as against 01100 at j the present time. Bc-ddes this there will | be a reserve of 4000 kilowatts at tbe i Hobson Street station. This power, to-I gether with the 2000 from Horahora,! will pln"e the board in a position of j hemp able to meet all reasonable de- ; nmnil- in tbe aroii which it controls until the Aranuni current is available." Tbe deputation to tiie Minister was gre-it'v a--i~tM by tbe member for Rnskill. Mr. Vivian Potter, who introduced it to Mr. ('nates, ami by Sir Frederic. Inn", who introduced the members to tlie Prime Minister. "We w-re peculiarly I fortunate respecting Mr. Massey and Sir I Frederic l.mie." remarked Mr. Holds! woMV "as both these gentlemen were; keenly ictero-ted in tbe nmpnsal. which closeh- iiTects their cle -tornte*. Xtfedless to say tbev were both very pleased at tbe result, of our interview with the Mm- | i.ster of Pubic Works." — i