LIGHT RAIN AT COLERIDGE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 15 September 1930, Page 11

LIGHT RAIN AT COLERIDGE.

LITTLE RELIEF EXPECTED. LAKE STILL FALLING. APPEAL TO MANUFACTURERS. When yesterday at last the longwanted nor'-wester came, it brought only light rain in the Lake Coleridge watershed. Last evening no record of the extent of the fall was obtainable, but it was estimated at only a few points. The weather then appeared to be clearing. Whether the rain, by melting snow, has had any effect on the lake level will not be known until the gauges are taken to-day. In the meantime, observations taken on Saturday and Sunday mornings show that the lake is still falling, though now more gradually as public economies be--come more and more. strict. For the past three days, the inflow from the Harper river, though at a low figure, has been maintained. It was stated by the District Electrical Engineer (Mr R. G. MacGibbon) that an announcement of the Public Works Department's plans to cope with the next winter load will be made at the conference of consuming authorities that is to be held to-morrow. He and the Eleetrical Inspecting Engineer (Mr A. Gavey) returned from the south on Saturday, having impressed on all Power Boards and local authorities en route the necessity for greater economy. "The position at present is undoubtedly serious, but it is not panicky," Mr Gavey told a reporter of "The Press." There was a frost at Lake Coleridge on Friday night, and on Saturday the weather remained calm and clear. Yes* terday morning, a light nor'-west wind was blowing, but no rain had been recorded for the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. The sky was cloudy and unsettled, and rain was predicted. At about 3.80 p.m., a light fall began and was maintained intermittently until late in the evening. A report from the Harper river at 6.30 p.m. stated that although it was then raining lightly, there was little prospect of a heavy fall. ''ln spite of expectations, we have had v^y little rain," said Mr MacGibbon last evening. "What has fallen may melt some of the snow, but so far there is no indication of this. The prospects, too, are poor. Altogether the facts are hopeful and hopeless. It is disappointing that the fall has been so little, but the mere fact that there has been some sort of a fall may indicate a return to normal conditions. What we really need is not one day's rain or two days' rain, but a heavy, continuous fall to melt the enow and increase the inflow to the Lake." Economies Increasing, The increasing extent of public economies is shown by further figures of the demand, in units, on the Coleridge power-house on Friday and Saturday during each of the last four weeks: Units. Friday, August 22nd • • 419,610 Friday, August 29th .. 382,230 Friday, September sth .. 364,580 Friday, September 12th .. 287,490 Saving .. • • 132,120 Saturday, August 23rd .. 373,900 Saturday, August 30th . . 348,310 Saturday, September 6th .. 325,960 Saturday September 13th .. 243,930 Saving .. •• 129,970 The heavy decrease in the demand last week is due to the fact that several more stand-by plants, publie and private, have now been put into operation. The Christchurch Tramway Board has started a 500 k.w. plant in addition to its 1000 k.w. plant. The Ashburton Power Board started a 120 k.w. plant on Thursday. The Waitaki Power Board brought into service on Friday a 150 k.w. water plant and a 240 k.w. semiDiesel plant. The South Canterbury Power Board's water plant at Fairlie has been running for some time. Following the visit of Mr Gavey and Mr Mac Gibbon, two flour mills in the Timaru district have voluntarily changed over to their auxiliary plants. They interviewed the Mayor of Tlmartt, who was very sympathetic and promised all economies. The trip ended with an inspection of the Waitaki works, Mr Gavey returned to Wellington on Saturday evening. . , Payment for Auxiliary Plant#. "The response so far .has been remarkably good, and if the economies can be maintained and increased there is reason to believe that they may tide the province over this period of difficulty," said Mr Gavey before his departure. "The position at present is undoubtedly serious, but it is not panicky." As for the future, the Minister for public Works had stated that steps would be taken to make certain that the position did not recur, and the taking of those steps would be the Department's responsibility. The Department, continued Mr Gavey, had already arranged to run certain auxiliary plants as a safeguard, and to pay the out-of-pocket expenses of their running. These were exclusively the plants of local authorities, for the Department obviously could not recompense the owner of each and every private plant, even though it had been so- generously put into operation. The progress of work at Waitaki waß excellent, said Mr Gavey. No man could say yet that the scheme would be finished on time, but, personally, he hoped and believed that it would. Machinery at the Lake, "There is somo measure of truth in the statement that the capacity of the machinery at Lake Coleridge is too great for the volume of the lake," he said. "The extra turbine set was installed, first, because it was realised that the demand would increase in the two winters because it is intended that Coleridge shall net as a regulator for Waitaki, taking the peak loads and carrying on in the event of a breakdown. To cope with the increasing demand the set was put in earlier than need be. It was fully appreciated that the lake could not continuously supply that whole machinery at its full capacity except in an abnormal year. That capacity, nominally over 34,000 k.w., has never yet been reached. When the plant is used, as it will be, only to take peak loads and at odd times in cases of emergency, there will be an ample supply of water to run it ~at its full capacity." Mr Gavey stated that bo and Mr MacGibbon had found on their way ■ to Oamar* that th« people in th« diffenat

centres did not yet realise the seriousness of the position. This had been impressed upon them, and, as a result, further economies might be expected. Appeal to Manufacturers. "Although the units consumption now shows a considerable decrease, the maxi- ( mum demands recorded in the last three days have not gone down," said Mr Mac Gibbon. "They were 18,980 k.w. on Thursday; 18,940 k.w. on Friday; and 16,560 k.w. on Saturday. The reduction on Saturday is normal, and is due to the day. The fact that the peaks all occur between 11 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. indicated that it is the industrial lop,d which is responsible. I think the Canterbury manufacturers should congratulate themselves that bo far no restrictions at all have ; been made on their power. For that they have to thank the community in general for making the economies which it has done. It is now up to the manufacturers, since the peak load is due principally to industrial concerns, to effect what economies they can without discharging employees. They can at least make certain of cutting off motors running' idle .shafting, and postpone any processes demanding additional power. If we can get relief from the manufac- . terers as well, the situation is hopeful. i Our object now is to reduce the daily rate at which the lake is falling, or, if we can, to maintain the lake steady, when we could carry on indefinitely.' - . Mr Mac Gibbon the : example of the two*flourmills in tKo Ti-. maru district,, which had voluntarily agreed to run their own plants, "with: these economies and the economies that we trust all manufacturers will make, we hope to be able to carry on for a considerably extended'period—well into the rainy season." ■■■> Railway Department Criticised. The Bailway Department's refusal to revert to a steam service - between Oliristchurch and Heathcote on the lyttelton line, has been widely crltieiMd, particularly by local bodies and private firms now running their own standby plants; and the explanation given that smoke would damage tbe insulators on the transmission lines is dismissed , by engineers as frivolous. On Saturr day the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer> telegraphed to the Mifcster ior. Tubße Works (the Hon. W. B. Taveraer) aa follows: "Reverting to our conversation on Thursday, I beg now tosuggest v that the tinio has. arrived when electricity should be replaced by steam on the Lyttelton line. The Gas Company assures me that it can supply a type of coke reducing damage to eleetrical gear to a minimum. Please consult Minister for Railways, and act as. quickly as possible," Other strong representations will be made to the -Government this week. The Department «lwtrical and signal engineer. (Mr G. W. Wyles) has returned to Wellington. •_ Delegates from all consuming authorities in the Coleridge Area will attend the conference which has been jjoaypned by the Canterbury Progress - League, and which will be held to-mortrow in the Chamber of Commerce HalL The question of rebates by the and by local authorities is likely to *»*»• : wide discussion. ELECTRIC CRANES AT LYTTELTON. WORKING AGAIN* fIMMt" The .eighteen electric oraaee telton, which w«r© placed ont mission by the Harbour Bowd Jw* Wednesday in order that a# mocfcewetrio power, might be conserved aa poesible, will f recommence working Thie decision was communicated to * reporter of The Pbbbs yesteyday by Mr O. H. Ciibborn (secretary to ; Board), who said it was inflpancea mainly by the pressure of shipping on the port this week} hot a further reason was that the Railway Department had not as y<#t made any reduc- „ turns in the use of power on the !*«• telton line. . . •- . When the District Electrical Eog»- . neer (Mr R. G. Mac Gibbon) mterviewed the Lyttelton Harbour, B<»rd last Wednesday, said Mr Chbborn, with a request that the cranes should be put out of commission, the ,B0«ra acceded, with the proviso that m tafcing this step they expected that the Railway Department s would. »» »> called upon to make reductions. With, no electric cranes for the handling at cargo, vessels naturally took looge* to load and discharge ; now there were? a large number of vessels m port,w» there was a likelihood ,of Accordingly it was decided thati the cranes would be put into opera wcm again to-day, and throughout - this week, until such time as the power shortage situation, became -■ more Eleven Vessels in Port. This inorning there ar® eleven vessels in Lyttelton. Six of t&ese ar« overseas steamers—the Golden <Jroo«» the Somerset, the Middlesex, tho Narbada, the City of Lyon#, and the Armadale. There are aIBO on© intercolonial steamer, the KaretU,- whictt has a week's work ahead of « aretj and four coastal vessels. In apditMJp a motor-ship carrying ph««pw»te» 18 due at noon to-day, but l tw! 11 probably use the Union Steam ©hip -Company's steam coal-handling plant. railway curtailment. Further drastic curtailment wa» made cn Saturday in tho lighting of the Xiyt-" telton railway station, and the station# on the Christchurch-LytteWon line. The lighting of the railway yard atLyttelton will be reduced when not'actually lit use and night-shunting will be a»aSded asfar as possible, . The international cabT« appwuiur m this issue is published by tofuewMSp with the Australian Pro# the Son-SenUl Kotm Swvie*, UastoS.