POWER FROM WAIPORI

Evening Star, Issue 19615, 22 July 1927, Page 8

POWER FROM WAIPORI

HISTORY OF BIG SCHEME ADDRESS BY ELEGTP.iOAL ENGINEER The history of Waipori and power development for Dunedin and Otago was traced by the city electrical engineer (Mr M C Henderson) in an address to members of the University Club at lunch to-day. Mr Henderson said the capital expenditure to date was within £IO,OOO of £I,OUu,OOO. Waipori was playing an important part in the social and commercial life of Dunedin. Tracing the history of the river, Mr Henderson said gold was found in the Waipori River in November, ISfll, and within six weeks <I,OOO ounces were sent down to Dunedin. Three thousand miners were snaking cradles in one certain area, but to-day not twelve people lived there. After the whites had left the goldfield the _ Chinese searched for gold, and at one time 1,000 Chinese were mining at Waipori. In the gold days the district was a wild one. there being fourteen hotels near the field. Dredges were later used on the river, and it was then that hydroelectricity power development was mooted owing! to the 3ii"h cost of cnal. H. Richardson, a miller at Outran) Plains, installed power in his mills, and transmitted power also to Ontram. Mi. LmvsOTi, another settler, and Mr Ricnardson obtained the water rights of Waipori and made a start. Several very prominent Dunedin business men became interested in the scheme, and in 1902 the Waipori Company was formed. It was difficult to get others to take an interest, hut these men were energetic shortly after. One of the promoters suggested that the company should go further than the development of power lor the dredges, and supply and reticulate the city °of Dunedin, which had actually started on e scheme at Leo Stream. At first the city opposed the proposed Waipori extension into the city, but in 190-1 a compromise was reached, the citv to buy from the Waipori Company. Mr Henderson did not think that any person had received much money from the sale, but one gentleman originally interested in Waipori had told him it was just as well that the scheme had been sold out to the city, as the company would not have been able to raise the money to carry on. The original plant was of 2,000 kw. Mr Henderson related some of the dilficulties first encountered. Progress was slow, and shortage of water was one of the first troubles. During the past twenty years, there had been extremes of flood and’ shortage in the river. Unless the water could have been stored Waipori would have failed, but the configuration of the country was admirable for the conservation of the water. The site of the present dam at Lake Mahinerangi would have commended itself to any person, but when the scheme was started the mining interests were in conflict with the hydro-electricity interests. In 1903 the cutting of the tunnel dispensed with the flaming which had given trouble, and thus greater confidence in the scheme was obtained from the consumers. The consumption of current increased, and new plant had to be installed. April, 1911, was a dry season, and difficulties were experienced in saving the water. Once the water got pas* the dam it went to waste. The council, therefore, decided to erect a, weir at the entrance to the tunnel, by which means the water could be controlled from day to day. In 1911. despite the weatherj it was seen that greater storage was needed, and application was made to the Government for Mahinerangi. ' The mining protest was too strong, however, and tho application was declined. A start was made to heighten the old dam, but the work censed owing to a lack of money. In the following two years the Waipori load did- not increase as much as in the previous years, and more storage was not undertaken^ The war interfered with Waipori’s development, but in 1018 the load increased again, and the council decided to make another attempt to obtain Lake Mahinerangi. The miners claimed that the Waipori Flat was gold-bear-ing. It then seemed that if payable gold was found the city would have to do without its storage. If the gold was not found the flat would be useless for any purpose other than the storage of water The council had asked tho Mines Department to bore for gold. The operation had cost £1,700 and only an ounce was obtained. In October, 1920, the Bill empowering the council to erect the dam was passed. That Bill widened the scope of Waipori to the prospect of 10,000 k.w. ; or even more. The City Council decided to survey the whole of the flat, and after a few months tho report was made recommending the erection of a 100 ft dam which would provide a "storage of water over an area greater than Otago Harbor, and carrying even a. greater amount of water. . Realising the necessity of safeguarding against floods, the City Council,' after the 1923 flood, asked for permission to erect a 110 ft dam. The Government agreed,

providing that the miners were compensated. In March, 1924, a conference was held at Waipori Township, and the relations were so harmonious that it was decided to take steps to obtain the whole of the Waipori Flat. In October. 1924, the Bill giving authority to build the higher dam was passed. That Bill raised the possible development of Waipori to at least 25.000 k.w. The diversion through a tunnel to Mill Creek, where a power house could be built, would allow of 35.000 k.w. But the scheme was turned down because it would have cost £600,000, and would hare taken five years to complete, during which time_ a short supply of power, would be experienced. The council had decided to progress with its present plans, and another scheme was to generate power at the dam itself. Mr Henderson explained several other schemes, which would allow a development of 27.000 k.w. He said they would sec that all plans presented for Waipori were for the future. In the past they would not have been warranted in trusting to chance; consequently it had been necessary to retrace previous works. Further possibilities were ahead for Waipori, which would ho an important unit when connected with the Lake Coleridge, Waitaki River, and L;.ke Monowni supplies.