ARAPUNI POWER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 49, 27 February 1935, Page 8

ARAPUNI POWER.

SCHEME A SUCCESS. EXTENSION PROGRAMME. STATEMENT BY MR. KISSELL. "Engineers are etill of the firm opinion that Arapuni is one of the best schemes ill New Zealand, and are quite confident that it will be the Govern' ment's most successful scheme from the financial point of view, even taking the cost of repairs into account,' , said Mr. F. T. M. Kissel], chief electrjcal engineer of the Public Works Department, this morning. The remedial works carried out some years ago had been quite successful, Mr. Kissell said. From time to time it was likely that minor repairs would bo necessary, but such repairs were inevitable and normal in any work of that magnitude. "I do not think that the public realises that such a work could need repairs," tie added. The foundation at Arapuni consisted of volcanic tuffs. It was rather interesting to note that the highest dam in the world, afc present being built in the Grand Canyon, United States, has foundations of rocks of volcanic tuffs, somewhat similar in nature to Arapuni. Developmental Works. Referring to recent and projected developmental work, Mr. Kissell said that extensions bad been planned for tho future, not for (he present; and it would be three, years before extensions already planned would be finished and ready for use. To-day there was sufficient power oven with one motor damaged. The present actual development was four units,, each of 15,000 k-w. The extensions planned would be of two more units, each of 15,000 k.w. Space had been left in the building for them, to be installed as demand warranted. Contracts to the, total order of £S0,()00 for the two new machines for the extensions were recently let to Metropolitan Vickc.rs Electrical Company, of Manchester, for the generators, and Messrs. Boving and Company, of London, for the waterwheels. A certain proportion of the latter would be manufactured at the linns' associate works in Sweden. Growth of Demand Now Improving. Mr. Kissell mentioned the growth in the use of power. "While, prior to the depression, the average rate' of growth of power demand in tho North Island was 15 -per cent per annum,"' he said,

"during tho past three years it had been reduced to an average of 4 per cent. Now, however, there arc indications of an increase again.' . For the past half year, compared with the corresponding period for last year, there had been an improvement of about S per cent. Had (he pro-depression rate of growth in the use of electricity continued, the department would have had to increase, the- generation capacity at the rate of 1.},000 k.w. yearly —die power of one of the original machines at Arapuni— which would have meant that by tho present time Arapuni would have been fully developed. The stalT at Arapuni, to-day, numbered about 140, of which !() were permanent staff and tho remainder engaged in the extension work.

Commenting on work now being done at. Wnikaremoana. Mr. Kissell said that it was really ill tlie nature of further investigation to prove the liesi method of the development of future extensions. .The works which were Jieing carried out. were designed in such a way as to lit into the scheme of construction, iind might ultimately l<. proceeded with if the. exploration work proved to lie such as the engineers expected.