ELECTRICITY

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 102, 30 April 1921, Page 6

ELECTRICITY

HUTT VALLEY SUPPLY

MANGAROA SCHEME DISCUSSED

LOAN POLL APPROVED

A public meeting to discuss the proposed hydro-electrio scheme to supply powev and light for the Hutt Valley was hold in the King George Theatre last evening. Mr. E. P. Rishworth, Mayor of Lower Hutt, presided, and there was an attendance of about 200. The Mayor said that the scheme was not an alteiia-' tive to tbe proposal, to establish a local gasworks. That was entirely independent, and the electrical plan was an auxiliary one. Even if all the gas, thai was wanted could be obtained, the town required electricity for street and house lighting. The first suggestion for the provision of electricity had been to use the engines of the local pumping station; but if that was done, there would be only about power enough to carry the streetlighting. The new proposal was to harness the Mungaroa Stream, and this work, if carried out, would be valuable notwithstanding the coming of Mangahao power. It would enable the town to be ready with its reticulation to take the Mangahao power; and the cost of the reticulation would, of course, have to be incurred in any case for tie utilisation of the Mangahao supply. It might be found, moreover, that the allotment of current from Mangahao would not be large enough for Lower Hutt, and the local plant would supplement it. The Mayor then read the report of Mr. H. Ei. Climie, of Messrs. Climie and Son, which was published practically in full in The Post last Saturday. A matter on which no light was available at present, said the Mayor, afterwards, was that of the riparian rights with respect to which the residents along the Mungaroa Stream might claim damages.'-

Mr. Climie was asked to address the meeting, and caid that there had been important changes in conditions since the report was drafted, about seven months ago. Labour was more plentiful, and money less so, and more - expensive. This meant that-the Mangahao scheme could be pushed on faster and the current might be available sooner than he had anticipated. On th« other hand the difficulty of raising money, would delay a local scheme, and the 1 bigher interest that must be paid would probably wipe out the balance in favour of the local scheme as reported on. Moreover, if the borough's maximum demand was much less than 600 horse power it would be distinctly more ecorxsmical to wait for the Mangahao supply-

Replying to, cortaia criticisms to the effect that the Mangaioa stream is likely to fail for,, say, two months, at the height of summer, Mr. Climie said that it was not contended, nor was it necessary, that the stream would provide 600 horse-power for 24 hours. Careful investigation had shown, however, that the water would be t sufficient to supply all thorugh the year a demand of the usual type in a residential town, and having a peak op maximum load of 600 horse-Power. With regard to the riparian rights concerned, Mr. Cpimie said that it frequently happened that claims were threatened before a scheme wafl begun, but came to nothing becanse the rights suffered no real damage. Ah important point, Mr. Climie said, was that electricity, whether from a local scheme or from Mangahao, would assist and cheapen the,water supply. Power would bo available at practically no cost to drive electrical pumping machinery. llf Government current was used, it would cost nothing so long- as- the maximum ?oad was not increased by the use of the pumping machinery. Various questions were asked by ar.embers of Ihe audience-

• One speaker asked if the residento north of Lower Hutt could be supplied with power, and was informed that it was preferable to provide supply for the whole of the Hutt Valley under one authority, so long as there was proper representation and no clash of interests. Mr. Climio said that it would .be possible to run trams with 200 or 300 horsepower, which could be provided, if not wholly by the local scheme, then partly by the Government supply. In reply to j another question, Mr. Climie %aid that the present financial (conditions made it I appear to him advisable that before deciding on the scheme, the people should wait to find what the Government proposed to charge for current; as that would determine whether a local scheme would be financially advantageous. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., ispeaking from the body of the hall, discussed briefly the great convenience of an electrical supply for domestic purposes. One advantage of a local hydro-electric scheme was that it would ensure the' readiness of the reticulation and other equipment to receive the Government's current from Mangahao. Another special advantage was that a local scheme would act as a stand-by, and give continuity of supply, in case of a breakdown' of the main source.

Mr. Wilford urged that prompt steps should be taken to consider the establishment of a power-board for ,the district from Waikanae to Wellington to deal with the power to be allotted by the Government (1900 horse-power), and snggested the appointment of a committee for that purpose, to represent all the local authorities concerned.

The Mayor moved that a poU should be taken on the question of raising a loan for the purpose of reticulating the borough to take the Government's supply of current. An amendment was proposed that the poll should be taken" on a loan for carrying out the scheme as reported upon by Mr. Climie, and this was carried without further discussion.

A further resolution in favour of prompt action jointly with the neighbouring local bodies, to: form a power board (as suggested by Mr. Wilfdrd) was carried by acclamation*