Hydro-Electric Power

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1924, Page 11

Hydro-Electric Power

X">y» INGE the last special issue of "The Evening Post," "v^^ when the Mangahao hvdioJ^J electric scheme was fully described and some attempt made to indicate the progress in the plans for distribution of current in the large district under the ManawatuOroua Electric Power Board, there have been further developments. At the head station itself the worst difficulties with the dams have been surmounted and a considerable step forward taken towards completion.. It is even suggested on reasonable authority that current may be available from one of the 'units in a month or two— say, early in August. A recent visitor to the head works of Mangahao is optimistic as to the time of completion. "The man in the street," he. cxys, writing to "The Post," "has a vague notion that the station will be working some day in the future, but ■nhen he cannot say. Those who have seen the development of Mangahao from its virgin state know what has been achieved, and they are beginning with confidence to look forward to the time when the water wheels will start spinning and the generators humming and the power in the mountain streams will be turned into electrical light and heat for our homes and our industries. "There have been, of course, many delays due to unforeseen difficulties, but when man takes up the task of trying to harness-the forces of Nature and sticks to it, he wins in the long run. Mangahao is no exception to the rule that Nature in the long run will yield her powers to man's tenacity of will, and the end there is not far distant, and can, indeed, be said to be almost in sight. '■'From the layman's point of view, all that the engineers had to do was to jauild a dam across the Mangahao River, bore a tunnel one mile long through the range to the Tokomaru Valley, erect another dam there, and convey the water from the double reservoir so formed through another long tunnel to the westward face of the hills and there let it run down the steep slope through steel pipes to thf» power-house, where the fall can be utilised by Pelton wheels to turn generators and supply electricity all over the country. "Most people know that trouble was experienced with the foundations of the Arapcti dam, but to look at it now gives the impression that little remains to be done to finish this great work. "At the power-house the pipe lines #*v laid to a, considerable distance up

the hill, and work on this part is b»» ing pushed on rapidly. Huge anchor blocks of concrete have to bo built ever the pipes at every angle to resist the pressure of the water. Th» power-house building itself is practically complete. From all aspects one Mould say that the station would bo quite ready and the scheme in fall working order by the end of the year, allowing a margin for contingencies." As to the other side of the scheme, the distribution of current, tie various Power Boards have all made more or less progress according to circumstance. Those districts closest to Mangahao appears to have advanced the furthest in the big task of reticulation. Transmission lines are to be seen everywhere on both sides of the Tsrarua Ranges, in the Forty Mile Bush, and the Wairarapa, as well as in th» Manawatu and the Horowhenua. Everywhere from road and rail one> sees the big poles (in pairs) of the rr.ain line stalking straight across country regardless of roads or hills or plantations. They go, like old Bomans, straight to their destination. Then there are secondary distributinjr lines down, roads communicating ■ with houses and farms on either side. It is in the Manawatu, perhaps, that one> sees the.greatest advance People in the district immediately round Pahnerston, within a radius of abont Bix or seven miles, have already got the current on, and electric light/in the homestead. This is, of course, not from Mansahao as yet, but from Palmeraton North, where the new borough, electric station, where three hig gas engines are generating current for the borongh and supplying the Power Board with a certain quantity for the Board's consumers The borough will be in the'same position at Wellington when Mangahao switches in—it will have its own generating station as an alternative source of supply, taking th» peak loads. Meanwhile, the Power Board is doing very well to give its consumers & first taste of the advantages of electricity. About 300 consumers are taking current for electric light, but none is yet being supplied for motors to private installations. That will come later when Mangahao ''juice" arrives. But the people throughout the country are' taking to electricity almost 100 per cent —the actual figures are 96-^-arid there is big inquiry for electric cookers, heaters and other conveniences'. "When- all these are installed, who shall say that it is not a changed countryside and a pleasanter rural life than it wwats t say, twenty years a:o.J