HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT

EROSION AT ARAPUHI WAIPORI HEGOTIATIDNS “ During my term of office two notable forward movements have been made in connection with hydro-electric power development in that the first unit from Waikaremoaua, of 20,000 kilowatts capacity, was put on load at the end of January, 1929, thereby relieving the severe stress which for some time bad _ been thrown on the Mangahao station, and at the beginning of June, 1929, the first unit at Arapuni, of 15,000 kilowatts, commenced to deliver power on a commercial scale, and has sine© then beeen running practically fully loaded. The second unit is now ready, and commenced carrying load at the end of September. It is anticipated that the third unit will be operating before the end of the year. It is a source of satisfaction to the Government that its officers have been able to demonstrate that the claim made by the contractors that it was impossible to erect a power house on its present site had no foundation in fact. “ Work on the Waitaki Riverj whore a large development is being made about four miles above Kurow, is proceeding satisfactorily. A coffer dam of' interlocked steel sheet piling has been completed, enclosing a section in the centre of the river, and the rock has been laid bare in the bottom. When this section is concreted the dewatering and concreting of the remaining sections in the main stream will be greatly facilitated. So far the work has been quite successful, although in common with all work carried out in rivers subject to_ flood, there must be considerable anxiety so long as the works are in a condition which renders them vulnerable to the attacks of a large flood. However, every precaution which can economically be taken is being taken. “For some time it has been suggested that it will be to the advantage of both parties if an agreement can be arrived at whereby the Government purchases the city of Dunedin’s Waipori development, at least so far as the main generation and transformation is concerned, and negotiations have been in progress. Whether these will be finalised or not has not yet been decided, as quite a number of considerations other than strictly commercial factors surrounding this transaction must be considered.