HON. J. G. COATES

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17060, 3 February 1921, Page 6

HON. J. G. COATES

CITY INDUSTRIES INSPECTED. On Saturday, the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates, paid a visit to Lake Coleridge, and learned some particulars of the source of eleetririty in Christehurch. Yesterday he took the opportunity of seeing for himself how the system was benefiting the industries of the city. Accompanied by Mr G. "Witty, M.P. for Riccarton, Messrs F. W. Furkertt, Engineer-in-Chief, and Xj. Birks, Engineer to the Public Works Department, he first visited the New Zealand Refrigerating Company's freezing works at Islington. It was pointed out that the "juice" from Lake Coleridge conies into the sub-station at 11,000 volts, and is transformed there into 400 volts for the motors, and 230 volts for lighting. Three transformers aro in regular use with another as a standby. A 500 h.p. motor is used for operating the freezing machinery. The main fly-wheel for tho freezer is a huge thing, weighing about 14 tons. Everything in the works is operated by electricity, and 63 motors are kept going. The power, which comes via Addington, is received at a post outside tho sub-station at the works. On the main switch board is a panel for each department in tho various buildings comprising the works, the switches being in oil for the sake of safety. Except that the company can genorate sufficient power for lighting purposes, the employment of the 4C|P to 500 men engaged at the works during tho soason depends entirely on the electricity supplied by tho Lake Coleridgo system. Tho party nest visited the chemical works now being erected for Messrs Kompthorne, Prosser, and Co., Ltd., on what a year ago was a bare paddock, at Hornbv. The acid building will be 80ft bv 200 ft, and 40ft in height, and the phosphate store 112 ft by 130 ft. The workshop, which has recently been erected, is about 40ft by 55ft. As building supplies have been coming to hand fairly promptly, it is expected that tho works, which will give employment to something like 150 men, will be completed in from eighteen months to two years' time. At present the electricity' used in the fitting shop is generated there, but ultimately, when the works are in operation, about 2000 h.p. from Lake Coleridge will be consumed. A new industry made possible by tho Lake Coleridge system was then seen, tho partv going to the steel works ft Messrs Wacklell and Sons, Ltd., Lincoln road. With the assistance of a sktton electric furnace, tho first of its kind in the Dominion, the firm is enabled to make steel castings and ploughshares, and also steel ingots, which are rolled into oars. Electrically made pigiron is also turned out at the works. The furnace is the means of saving tho firm much that used to be wasted before. Turnings and borings that used to be dumped in' old gravel pits at Chaney's, have now a substantial commercial value, as they can be put through tho furnaoo and re-converted into steel. * The power reaches the works at 11,000 volts, and is transformed into 90 'volts. It goes through cables into three electrons, by means of which tho smelting is done. The power which has been delivered now for about twelve monthß, is supplied only at night, when there is not such a demand for it from other consumers. The party were shown a pile of about 400 old steci tyres from railway freight trucks, which would shortly be broken up and put through the furnace to be re-made into steel. At the time of the visit the workers were engaged in the manufacture of "chill" wheels for freight cars under order to the Public Works Department. It wna explained that this type of wheel, which was so manufactured as to be much harder on tho nm, tho part that would have contact with the rail, is vox® extensively in America, find is considered superior to the 6toel tyres used on the New Zraland railways, owing to their durability. Wheels or the new tvpe, it was stated, are used on the Dunedin tramway system. Before the war, large numbers of suoh wheels were .imported from Germany; now they are being manufactured in Christehurch. When the wheels are worn out, thov can bo sept back to the smelting workn, broken up, and recast. The Minister was also shown, some steel rods, wttiieh, on being struck with a heavy hammer, satisfied.him or the quality and flexibility of the steel. A short inspection was made of the Addington sub-station, where the power coming from Lake Coleridge, over a distance of 65 miles, is broken down and distributed to consumers. Here the power, which leaves the power-house at 66,000 volts, is broken down to 11,000 volts. Tho sub-station, which at the time of inspection, was carrying a load! of about 7000 h.p., will be extended when the capacity of the lake powerhouse plant is enlarged to such an extent as to make this desirable. The new Post and Telegraph office on the Yaldhurst road, Upper Riccarton, was inspected by the Minister. The building, which is a substantial brick structure, was provided' for on the Estimates for about eight years, but was held up for a long tiine by the intervention of the war. It is expected that it will be opened for business in about a month. In the afternoon Mr Coates motored to Papanui and inspected tho post office now in course of erection. The building, which is being erected to replace the old post office a couple of chainß away, the latter having been condemned about fourteen years ago, was commenced on September 13th, but Cias been held up owing to shortage of labour and cement. The building, which i. r l being erected by the Public Works Department by day labour, is expected to be ready for occupation in two time. It oo:u----pie"s a very convenient site at the intersection of the Papanui, North, and Harcwood roads. The plans provide for the lower storey to be built in brick and the upper in wood, both rough-cast. Messrs Witty and F. Sisson, a member of t)he Waimairi County Council, suggested to the Minister that ho should build the post office entirely of brick. Mr Coates: Do you want me to cease operations while I hold an enquiry? Messrs .Witty and Sisson: No, no. The Minister promised to get the District Engineer to look into the matter nnd give an estimate of the difference in cost if the suggested alterations tihould be carried out. Deputations waited on the Minister yesterday afternoon to ask that telephone installations should he made at Waddington and Darfield, and that the settlors on the Upper Clarence river be given road access to their farms. Tho Minister promised to look into the matter and give his reply at a later date. Mr Coates -will leave this morning for the Selwyn river, where a deputation will wait on him. Subsequently he will go on to Ashburton, and further south. He made arrangements yesterday with Mr H. G. Ell to look over the Port Hills road on his return to Christchurch on February 19th.