LAKE COLERIDGE SCHEME.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15312, 28 July 1915, Page 3

LAKE COLERIDGE SCHEME.

I , ♦— _ AN EXPERT'S VIEWS. A-day or two ago Mr W". A. Keece, M.E.. a son of Mr William Recce, of this city,, who lias been with tho General Electric Company ot America, for tho past eleven years as electrical engineer, visited aud went over the Lake Coleridge hydro-electrical installation. In a chat with a representative of "The Press." Mr Recce gave his opinions regarding the installation. As to the power site Mr Recce said that the water supply is peculiarly free from the troubles usually encountered in heavily lumbered rivers or in those where ice forms. Ice is very I'requeiitlv a serious factor, involving heavy expense in tho winter months. Indications at Lake Coleridge pointed . to an ample and uninterrupted supply of water. The site has been well-chosen, and ought to permit the generation of energy on a voi*y economical basis, and result in far-reaching benefits to the • community. Th c power station and layout of the equipment has been, it is clear, carefully planned, a pleasing appearance consistent with economy of cost, and ease, and safety of operation being combined. It has been very thoroughly laid out, and the New Zealand Government was._ ho thought, very fortunate in their engineers. The same comments hold good regarding the Atldington .sub-station. The wooden pole line is well suited for tho ; service, and has been chosen, evidently, in urcference to /steel towers from the initial cost and maintenance standpoint. Tho duplicate transmission lines, Mr Reese assumed, will be. doubtless*, tapped at various points in the outlying districts at an early date when farmers become familiar with the many uses to which they can put electricity. This can be done by installiitj.. the out-door type of transformers to step down the voltage for power and lighting pur. poses. "It is extremely gratifying," Mv Recce added, "to find New Zealand maintaining a progressive' policy by keeping abreast of the times in electrical matters; The harnessing of her natural water-power will greatly help on development, and conserv© the fuel supply for other necessary purposes. The elimination of wa*st© is all important in this ago of keen competitions and high cost of living. It has been lonfi appreciated that great, economies can be secured by concentrating the power requirements of a community, whether agricultural or industrial, in a central station, as thereby a vast reduction is mado in the cost of generation. Iv all Darts of the world the -small, individual, dsolnted plants are being turned out and scrapped., and power purchased from a" central station source. Canterbury's indeed fortunate in having, a. thoroughly modern and economical supply, and all agricultural and industrial enterprises will, doubtless, discard old methods for electricity." Mr Recce enumerated the various uses to which electricity is put in the United States, and expressed the opinion that the duplication of equipment reduces almost to the vanishing point any possibility of interruption. Mr Recce leaves on Aucust 12th for Monte Video-, to take charge of the General Electric Company's affairs in the Argentine.