POWER PLANT AT MARUIA FALLS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 8

POWER PLANT AT MARUIA FALLS

ELECTRIC SUPPLY FOR i MURCHISON A hydxo-electric plant is to be in-: stalled shortly at Maruia Falls, on the Maruia river, about 15 . mijes from Murchison, to supplement the power supply for Murchison and the surrounding districts. It is expected that the station, which is to be built under licence issued by the Minister of Works (Mr.R Semple), will develop a capacity c.f 150 kilowatts. The hydro-electric plant and the Diesel generating set at present serving the area were working to capacity, said the county electrical engineer to the Murchison County Council (Mr T. B. Merson) last evening. The hydraulic and electric generating equipment for the new plant had been bought from the Waimea Electric Power Board and tenders were now being called for the principal construction work. A loan proposal of £15,000 for the undertaking had been taken but and it was anticipated that this figure would cover the cost, said Mr Merson. The plant would be in operation in about 12 months. It would be a considerable asset to the district, as there was very little likelihood of Government power being available for a long time. Mr W. A. Waters, of Palmerston North, is acting as consulting engineer for the scheme.