ELECTRICITY FOR THE BAY OF PLENTY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LIII, Issue 8683, 10 September 1924, Page 5

ELECTRICITY FOR THE BAY OF PLENTY

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Had tm* iw- ui .-l-i■< 11 i< 11 > ■■ '..■n fully anprcciated I*\ the people "i u ' Whakataiu> di-trict tiw V‘:ir< aim t!ioi* v iv hula .l.inl.t that tin- Rangitaiki R.vcr would !i;t\ <■ h.H'ii hai ru'-.-cd t<' provide | iou cr, light and heat lon in- • t»iv L i - ia! and dutin'-tic repii' l vl "* nts. But -mm than ilia <;o v*• niHien t hai.aan d‘Ve I i|) 111 O tha Aiaplllli -aliaim to ,-upplv current' lor df-tnal.- m l ‘' Amkland Province not ot hcrwi-w P 1 "" \ idcd lor ami the Tauranga Borough Council encouraged by tha -access of it- original -cbcimg tha datnand f" 1 aiirraut from all part- ot Iha aoiint>, and al-o tha facilitic- which a\i-t i«>r t Ik l development ot f nri h* r embarked tipon an entirely new ami ainhitioii- scln’mc--one which would |>n>vid. 1 for all need- of the I auranga district besides an abundant surplus lor disposal to oilier part- ol the Ba> anil al-o to assist ilia loading oi the Arapnni system. This new supply---the source of which is McLaren s I‘idls ini tha Wairoa River —offers so many eommomlahle features that it is doubtfni whether expenditure on development of tiny other .scheme in the Buy at the present time would he justified. The Bay of Plenty appears to ho endowed with splendid natural resources particularly in regard to water power hut in the instance ot McLaron's Falls it would seem as though nature. had done everything possible to assist man to generate electricity. The site is within a lew chains' of the Katmai 'Road and a few miles from a deep water landing mi the Wairoa River thus minimising the transport of cost of material ; it is only a short distance from thb original scheme (Omanawa) from where power is brought to operate stone crushers, concrete mixers, compressed air drills, etc. On a close examination ot the locality oven the lay mind can readily realise the factors which led to the selection of the site. The main Wairoa River emerges from a valley; then makes a sharp turn th rough a rocky ravine about 70ft deep by d 0 or >loft across and after .‘running a few chains junctions with another stream and empties over MVLaron’s Falls. On the opposite side from the ravine is a valley, the entrance of which is only slightly above the river surface. The scheme in a “nut-shell” i« to dam the ravine sufficiently high to convert the valley into a holding basin and take the water through a tunnel from the valley to the power-house below the falls, a distance of five or six' chains with a drop from 00 to 70 feet. The power-house is also ideally situated on a solid rock foundation in a bend of the river secure from the rush of flood waters. The most difficult and hazardous work in connection with the scheme is already accomplished. The river has been diverted to allow the dam construction : the tunnel has been pierced ; the gate tower and intakes constructed; the spill-way and also the excavations in connection with the dam construction are well advanced and the power house is being erected. The lining of the tunnel and the building of the dam are the two principal works yet to he undertaken hut it is expected that the whole scheme will be completed in aliout eight months time. Although only one turbine and generating set vs being installed at present provision is made for duplicating the plant when necessary ami in the event of a greater volume of water being required the tributary which joins the river at the. falls could ho turned into the main stream about a mile and a half above the clam.

With .such facilities available this scheme should'he carried out at a minimum cost and as the Tauranga Power Board’s loan proposals— to reticulate the district practically to the AVhakatane County boundary—have boon carried a jiood supply of electricity should ho available for the AVhakalane and Opotiki districts from tin's source as soon as these districts would be in a position to receive the same at the. most reasonable cost.

In any rase members of local bodies hitcreated should visit McLaren’s Falls while the construction worlds are 1 11 progress ami otherwise fully investigate ih«' scheme while the opportunity presents itself