ELECTRIC POWER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 68, 17 September 1925, Page 10

ELECTRIC POWER

SUGGESTED BOARD FOR NELSON

DISTRICT

(rKOH OCR OWN CORRISPONOE.VT.)

NELSON, 16th September.

.A conference convened at the request of the Motueka Borough Council was held .at', the .'"Municipal Chambers this morning between representatives of Motueka Borough Council and the Nelson City Council to consider tho question of setting up an electric power, board for the whole district. Motueka delegates were Mr. D.' W: Talbot, 1 Councillors B. Wratt and A: E, Smith, and Mr. Heath (electrical engineer).' .The City Council, delegates were the Mayor (Mr. W. Lock) and Councillors W./C. Harley.,' Moffatt, E.; R. Neale, and S. 'A. Gibbs. Mr. Henderson, city electrical engineer, was also,present. The Mayor of Nelson was elected to the chair.

The Mayorof Motueka said Motueka was in the same position \as some other small boroughs; their supply was insufficient for the demand: They had writ; ten to the Department regarding the Roturoa scheme, and had; been informed that when sufficient' consumers, were guaranteed the work would be undertaken. He hoped some amicable arrangement could be come to in combining and thus get a power board for the whole district." If Nelson could supply Motueka until the power scheme came into existence he hoped some satisfactory arrangement could be come to. Councillor Smith endorsed the remarks of Mr.'Talbot. ..-. ' '.<• •

Councillor Gibbs said the Government would ■_ not come in: until 1000/ kilowatts were guaranteed. - Mr. Talbot said the idea was that Nelson should supply MotuekS until the power board was set up. It was proposed that later on the Waimea County Council be asked to co-operate. Councillor Harley^moved that the'two engineers report oh the matter. ' ;'-,'

Mr. Talbot' seconded the motion. ' Councillor Nightingale said a comprehensive report had ' been submitted by Messrs. Toogood. and Holmes'on a water power scheme. . Ha realised that the time was.not distant when Nelson would have to go in for a larger scheme. Councillor Moffatt.said Motueka should be supplied with a copy of the report on the Wairoa {Gorge--.scheme, estimated to cost £169,000:.;, That, was .100,000 more, than the present steam plant. At tho time this was dealt with the did not feel justified .in taking ,on.'the larger scheme. If all the. districts -now combined something might yet be done/ . He _asked the Motueka delegates what water "power they had available. . - : Mr. Talbot said 200 horse-power could be obtained in the Riwaka district, sufficient perhaps for Riwaka and Motueka, but he thought more power could be ob- | tamed from the Pearse River.

Councillor- Gibbs said Nelson's present plant, he understood, would* supply Nelson easily for the next five years.

, Mr. Henderson said he thought they should aim at getting the Government to put in a hydro scheme. He had spoken .to Mr. Kissel, of ' the . Public Works Department, oii the matter, who had told him that when 1000'k.w. were guaranteed the Government would go on with No..- 1 station of ■: the Roturoa scheme ...within 5 years. . He suggested before-anything-was done-. Mr." Kissel, be asked to come over and advise what he proposed to do. . • ! ..... Mr. Heath- said -the predicament in Motueka wai that' they-were short of

power, and the council did hot favour an addition to the suction gas plant they had. They did not expect; the Government to come in before 1930, and in the meantime it was hoped Nelson could supply Motueka: with, current. '.

Councillor Gibbs moved an amendment that the Government^ be asked to send the Chief Electrical Engineer to Nelson to meet a deputation from the Nelson City Council, Motueka Borough Council, the Waimea County Council, and such other local bodies interested, to place before them the Government's proposals, and any suggestions he might ■ have to make to assist the district in getting over the-difficulties until such time aa the combined load is 1000 k.w^ . Councillor Moffatt seconded' the motion, which was carried.

It was resolved to postpone obtaining a report from Messrs. Henderson and Heath until such time as a report is received from Mr. Kissel. ,

The question of supplying Motueka from Nelson was then dealt with.

Councillor Moffatt. aske_d would Motueka be prepared to • put in the reticulation from the city boundary if Nelson added to its plant. .. V ".; Mr. Henderson said one of th« N«l»on engines would charge a line from Nelson to Motueka at 11,000 volts, but would not be sufficient for a voltage of 30,000. He thought, however, that ,with the present plant Nelson could assist Motoeka. . .

In reply to Councillor Moffatt, Mr. Talbot said before anything, could .be done as to financing the line, a conference bf local bodies would have to be held. If it was going to cost £15,000 or £20,000 then Motuekn' could finance a cheaper scheme. \ Mr. Henderson said the cost would depend on the voltage, and he thought the voltage of the Government scheme should be made known as soon as possible. Until this was known the cost could not be estimated. . .

The. conference then adjourned^