ARAPUNI TO STOP?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 183, 4 August 1932, Page 8

ARAPUNI TO STOP?

POWER BOARD WARNED. STEAM PLANT READY. ENGINEERS FLYING FBOM WELLINGTON. DEWATEKING OF HEADRACE. With the news that the heads of the Public Works Department are flying from Wellington, and the receipt by the Auckland Electric Power Board this morning of advice to have steam up at the King's wharf, in readiness to bring the station into full operation between 4 and 5 p.m. to-day for the supply of power to Auckland province, it is believed that the temporary stoppage of the Arapuni hydro-electric works is imminent. The decision whether it will be necessary to dewater the headrace to enable it to be thoroughly inspected will be made this afternoon at Arapuni on the arrival from Wellington of Mr. F. W. Furkert, engineer-in-chief, and Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, chief electrical engineer of the Public Works Department. They left Wellington by 'plane this morning.

It had been hoped .that the source of the leakage could be detected and the trouble remedied without emptying the headrace, and so stopping the turbines, but from the warning received by the Auckland Power Board it appears a foregone conclusion that the headrace must be dewatered before any remedial measures can be taken.

It is reported from Putaruru that the works at Arapimi have been closed to visitors as from to-day. This further confirms the belief that the Department heads intend to decide on the dewatering of the headrace. The Auckland Power Board has made the necessary arrangements to take over the load this afternoon and keep the province supplied until further notice', in the 6ame manner as it met the emergency when Arapuni broke down in 1930. "As far as we know we have definitely to take over the load at 4.30 p.m. to-day," said Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of the board, this afternoon. *' That is an indication that dewatering is to be carried out." Steam Plant's Capacity. The warning the Auckland Power 13oard received to get King's wharf station ready came by telephone from Mr. T. MaeLennan, district electrical engineer, at Hamilton, to Mr. R. H. Bartley, general manager of the board. Mr. McLennan intimated that an offcial letter was being forwarded asking the board to get steam up at King's wharf in readiness to take over the load at between 4 and 5 p.m. to-day. "That means," said Mr. Bartley, "that we will get ready for the generation of approximately 34,000 kw. This will leave us with about 7000 kw. in reserve. Previously when we took over the load we generated up to full capacity—4l,ooo kw. —but then Horahora was closed, down, which, is not the case to-day, and that plant will be able to supplement the Auckland supply by from 12,000 to 14,000 kw. Of course, if it is found necessary, and the supply is required, we can generate 41,000 kw. all the time. • Asked what he thought the message indicated'as far as Arapuni was concerned, Mr. Bartley said he took it to mean that the headrace was to be dewatered, thus Stopping the turbines. Coal Supply Assured. Mr. Bartley said that the temporary running of King's wharf station would not involye the engagement of many extra)' Bands, but if the stoppage at Arapuni was prolonged more staff would be necessary on account of the heavy repair work which was always essential,

especially in the- case, of fitters. They had no apprehensions in regard to coal supply. Pour weeks' supply was in sight at present, and th 6 amount used' would be a .quantity in the ticinityjpf 4000 tons a week. > A Coincidence. "It. is rather'a coincidence ' that we were only on water power three months when Arapuni was closed down in:1930, and it is • only three months- since the generation of hydro-electricity was resumed," said Mr. W. J. Holds worth, chairman of the Auckland Power Board. "It is extremely disappointing," he added, "seing that our whole system has been laid out for running on water power. The increased cost of running the King's wharf station under these conditions ia somewhere in the vicinity •of £50,000 a year extra, but fortunately under the terms of our agreement the Government will have to hear this cost, so that it will riot mean any inroads on the revenue of the board. Under the old agreement the extra cost was shared fifty-fifty between the Government and the board, but the new agreement stipulated that the Auckland station is to be looked upon, as a etand-by for the province, the cost of running to be borne by the Government. Government Supply. "The board will go on generating and supplying just as if Arapuni were operating," continued Mr. Holdsworth. "Any of the other boards which we supply will be on a basis as if the Government were supplying them, although the current actually is being generated at the King's wharf plant. "We anticipate no trouble in regard to coal supplies," said Mr. Holdsworth, "and as we use, on full load, up to 4000 tons a week, it will mean extra activity in the mines, and, of course, extra freight for the Railway - Department. Freights alone will be on a basis of £100,000 a year paid by the board. The contract we had when Arapuni was 'silent' comes automatically into action again, despite any break."