HYDRO-ELECTRIC SERVICE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8616, 13 June 1924, Page 3 (Supplement)

HYDRO-ELECTRIC SERVICE.

IT has been stated elsewhere, that the sum of £62,750 loan moneys had been raised and expended on the hy-dro-electric installation of the borough up to 31 March, 1923. In addition to that a few thousands have also been spent on permanent, works out of revenue.. But that was hardly the true position. In December, 1922 the ratepayers, Authorised the raising of a further loan of £90,000 to undertake an entirely new work, viz., the dieveiopment of power on the Wairoa Raver. That work is now in progress, and when tire full amount of the Iban is expended the capital invested by the Ifjorougli! iiu its .hvd ro-eliectricj works will total £152,750, quite a considerable sum for a borough of only 2400 inhabitants. Fortunately, however, the installation has proved) distinctly successful. For the year ending 31 March, 1923—the last published figures available —the total revenue form the sale of current was £10,058, and after payment of interest, sinking fund, and all other charges, the net profit was £I6OO. Add to this the surplus of previous years, and it is found that at 31st March, 1923, the accumulated profits, of the undertaking were £4913 —a very satisfactory position. Apart therefore, from being a burden upon the ratepayers, the investment of £62,750 in the hydro-electric installation is proving a. profitable investment, and when the interest and sinking fund charges on the new £90,000 loan LavO to be met it is confidently expected that even in the earlier* stages a very small, if any, rate will be needed. But even should a rate be unavoidable, the fact will still remain that the district will be possessed of au exceedingly valuable asset, which

TAURANGA LEADS DOMINION IN USE OF ELECTRICITY FOR COOKING.

the loan authorised and raised, and, as already stated, the work - is now well forward. Mr S. C. IV. David is in charge of the construction work, and it is fully anticipated that the power will be available by next winter. The maximum capacity of the falls is -fOOOh.p., by only 210Qh.p. is being developed at present, although the plant which is being installed will Ire capable of dealing with the whole, of the power available, by tli© addition of another unit. As stated elsewhere the original installation,' was put in., in 1913, and early in its history, the borough council realised that the electricity supply, might be mode available in the country, as well as in the town areas, and a considerable amount of work was done by the Council in the reticulation of the areas from 5 to 18 miles from the town. Tauranga, therefore, has the distinction of being one of the first districts in the Dominion where any effort was mad© to cater for country requirements, the lead in this respect has provided a most useful object lesson of the possibilites iu that direction. The charges for current compare very favourably indeed with charges made throughout tho Dominion, particularly for power purposes, and where a large supply is required for any particular industry the borough is in a position to meet the demand. Owning, as it does, efficient generating stations of its own, tho Council is in a position to offer special inducements to large Users of power, more particularly those requiring an all-day supply. As an illustration of tliis it may bo stated that the Council is able to supply the whole of the motive power for working Muir’s Gold Reefs at Te Puke at one-farthing per unit.