TE REINGA FALLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 64, 16 March 1901, Page 3

TE REINGA FALLS.

ELECTKIC POWER, V VISIT OF MR STEUART. The Te Roinga Falls were inspected yestorday morning by Mr Steuart, of the well-known firm of electrical engineers, Messrs Stouart and Fenn. Mr Steuart arrived from Auckland by- the Waikare, landing at Gisborne about 1.30 on Thursday morning. By 10 o’clock on the samo morning he started for Te Roinga. The roads were in a very bad state, but Mr J. R. Redstone having undertaken to drive the journey, it was done in excellent time. Messrs Steuart and Redstone arrived at Tiniroto about six in the evening. At daybreak yesterday morning they started for the Falls. They went to the available head of the Falls, and Mr Steuart, though it was raining heavily, made a careful inspection of the place, and toolc such measurements as will enable him to make a valuable preliminary report. The river was then in a swollen condition, and Mr Steuart states that it would bo impossible to make satisfactory estimates, excepting on the basis of the low, summer ievol of the river. But he believes that he can safely say, from what he saw, that there is an ample supply of water to generate electric power for Gisborne. lie was unable to guago tho amount of the How yesterday ; but, in

any case, such a record would not have been of use for his purpose. From the conversations he had with residents of tho district, he judged that there was twice tho ordinary summer flow in the river when ho saw it yesterday ; thoro was sulliciont flow to give about 1000 horsepower. Speaking at hazard, without having go no into the figures, Mr Steuart says that about 400 horse-power would bo sulliciont for Gisborne, and ho is satisfied that that would bo obtainable. lie did not think anything in tho nature of a reservoir would be required to maintain tho water at an even flow. As to tho falls, ho was quite satisfied as far as ho had seen that it' was suitable for the purpose desired, but tho broken nature of tho country presented difficulties in regard to tho laying of tho copper lino. Thoso difficulties could bo easily got over, but would moan an increasedexponso. From the available lioall of tho falls ho estimated thoro was a fall of about 100 foot. It was, ho informed the Times representative, his intention to supply the Council with as comploto a report as ho could give. That report would be of service to them in enabling them to say whothor they would proceed further in tho matter, but, of course, to giro details necessary for tho commencement of works would mean that surveys would bo roquired. First of all lie must determine tho power available, then tho pressure that would be most suitable ; that would determine the current that would havo to be used, and tho current, of course, would determine tho size of the copper conductor required. From that they would get to the question of tho price of the upper lino and plant. The power would determine tho sizo of tho dynamos and turbines. The information that Sir Stouart will supply to tho Council will, lie says, be sufficiently close to the mark that an allowance of ten per will be more than is necessary in considering how tho estimates will work out in practice. Though ho only had a fow hours at tho Falls, tho time was sufficient to enable him to formulato his report. In reply to tho question as to when tho report would bo ready for presentation to tho Council, Mr Stouart said it would be to hand within a month, lie would not make any suggestion now as to the probablo cost, as it would be more guess work to attempt such a thing without carefully analysing the data ho had collected, and making his calculations thereon.

Asked as to whothor or not Gisborne would bo suitable for electricity, he said it would bo most suitable, as the town was compactly built, and thoro would not bo the same expenso as in a town where tho houses wore scattered. Ono thing, of course, that would have to be considered was that there would bo tho Gas Company to compote with in regard to the use of the light, but thoso were matttors which it would bo for tho people of Gisborne to consider, after they had sonto idea as to the cost of supplying oloctricity.

Mr Steuart leaves for Auckland this morning. He will long remember his trip to To Reinga, owing to tho bad weather that ho oxperionced. He speaks very highly of the way tho trip was managed by Mr Redstone, whoso woll-carcd-for team did splondid time, notwithstanding tho wretched roads.