WATER POWER.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18672, 22 April 1926, Page 8

WATER POWER.

WAIKAREMOANA SCHEME. £750,000 JOB. C c n IMPORTANT DECISION OF CABINET. c .. v c (special to "the press.") o WELLINGTON, April 21. i Cabinot has considered and agreed to j important proposals in connexion with v the supply of hydro-olcctric power from v Waikaremoann to Gisborne. The works x will involve an expenditure of about £750,000, spread over threo years. I There will cvontually be a linking up l with Mangahao, from which the power . supply is being rapidly absorbed. t The contract between the Government and the Poverty Bay Power Board for the supply of power from Waiknrcmoana has now been signed. Payment will be at standard rates. There is provision for a minimum guarantee of £IO,OOO for tho first threo years, and increasing amounts thoreaftor, on condition that tho works aro in a posi- c tion to supply power within three years j of the date of signing the contract, and <; for a reduction of the first two years' minimum guarantees to £6BOO and £B4OO respectively if power is not J availablo within the specified throe * years. x The schemo of development proposed at Waikaremoana is to utilise the ( middle of one of throe ultimate sources, < using a fall of about 675 ft from Kai- i tawa Lake to Whakamarino. The i headworks are comparatively simple, consisting of a short diversion of the ( river into Kaitawa Lake, a low earth | dam on tho outlet of that lake, a short < tunnel to connect with tho pipe, and | then the main itom to the pipe lines 1 to connect the power-house. It is proposed to install as a first development, two 20,000 K.V.A. units in \ the power-house. The whole of the ! high-tension gear, transformers, switch ■ gear, etc., will bo of tho outdoor type. It is proposed to erect as a first instalment a single 50,000 volt line tWaikaremoana, and a duplicate 110,000 j volt line to connect with the existing y Mangahao system at Napier. It is esti- < mated that tho total coßt to provide , for this instalment will be about j £750,000, which will bo spread over < three years. This scheme is of more than local importance, as it soems evident that the available Mangahao power will all | be taken up before the five years in which it is actually guaranteed to be all paid for. Wanganui and Napier ' will be added to tho system shortly, so that it is probable that within two years the plant will be fully loaded, and Waikaremoana will be necessary. In connexion with the development of- Waikaremoana, it has been decided to accept an offer from the Wairoa Sawmffling Co. to purchase their mill and cutting rights, situateftat Botokiokio, about four mileß from the headworks. The timber available is about 3,800,000 ft, a great deal more than the requirements at Waikaremoana. The mill is particularly well situated for the construction works, and a saving to the' Government will bo effected both as regards the price of timber and on transport and road costs. The price | to be paid the Company is £2500. -■■gaß'