GREY HYDRO ELECTRICITY

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1932, Page 6

GREY HYDRO ELECTRICITY

MORE EARLY HISTORY

I By

W. H. Parfitt.

Having boon Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Greymouth during the period when the introduction of electricity to tlie district was under discussion, I may recall some points of interest. In the year 1920, the Greymouth Borough Council, looking to the progress of the district, decided to pursue every avenue relative to development of electricity, also urging on the Government the necessity of a. supply of surrent. Several proposals and schemes were submitted, viz., Arnold River, Lake Hoclistetter, Blackball Creek, Crooked River and Ten Mile Creek. The Council invited tlie late Mr Birks, Government Engineer, to come down, and decided to arrange a special train to meet him at the present stopping place, viz., the dam site on the Arnold. Mr Birks, after looking around and meeting the deputation that, night at the Borough Chambers, stated that the Arnold was a splendid scheme, but said the cost was just a little beyond the population then, though it would eventually be decided on. The Council instructed its engineer, the late Mr W. J. O’Donnell, to survey the Arnold River from above the tunnel at Kaiumta to Mr Blair’s sawmill. This was done and a lengthy report submitted to the Council by Mr O'Donnell. Numerous enquiries were made about the steam plaut which was used at Jackson by the Greenstone Co. It was thought by the Council that it that could be purchased cheaply, they could instal it at the Gas Works and then the Council could control both gas and electricity.

The Power Board project may bo said to have originated in representations that were made by the Greymouth Borough Council to other local bodies throughout the Grey district. The boundaries defined an inner area of 640 square miles, with a population of 11,000, and an outer area of 810 square miles, with a population 2500. A proclamation, gazetted October 26th, 1922, constituted the district a Power Board area with nine representatives. The first chairman, the late Councillor 11. F. Doogan, took a very great interest in the formation of tlie Board, and with him were Messrs G. E. Perkins and D. Tenneut (representing the Greymouth Borough Council), Joseph Taylor (Cobden), Daniel Baybutt Arthur Robinson and 11. C. Carter (rep resenting the County Council), and Fred Cookkc (representing the Runanga Borough). Many schemes were submitted to the Board for consideration, including both hydro-electric and steam proposals. After very carefully considering the various proposals, it was finally agreed to adopt a steam generator plant, and have the power station erected on the Harbour re-

serve at Dobson. Supply was given first to consumers in April, 1926, and the streets of Greymouth officially lighted on August 19, 1926, when the current, was turned on by the then Mayoress, Airs W. 11. Parfitt. The number of consumers in 1926 was 738, compared with to-day's total of 2701. With the growth of the load the Board later considered the advisability of extending, and loan proposals were plneed before the ratepayers and carried to develop the hydro-elec-tric source at the Arnold. Tenders were called. Sparks Limited being the successful tenderer, and to-day we see realised the dreams of ninny of our public men. among whom were the late Charles t'ddst rum, Junies O’Brien A1.1’., and .1. I). Lynch, who was Mayor of Greymouth in the days of the earliest

discussions that took place. Their object has been realised and the completion of tlie great Arnold hydro scheme is one more important link in the history of the West Coast development that is taking place. To the chairmen of the Board, viz., the late Mr 11. F. Doogan. Messrs D. Tenncnt. J. W. Greenslade, J. Smeaton, and J. B. Kent, the present chairman, and all of the Board members, one must give great credit, as also the several engineers, the late Mr Birks, Messrs Risse'll, Lythgoe, Sinclair Trotter, Lancaster. Vickerman, and Lenrmont, and likewise Air Gordon McKay and his many men who have worked on the undertaking.

The Arnold scheme will, I am sure, be the means of giving cheap power to many mining companies, and also to mining parties whom it should assist in developing gold production, thus helping to relieve unemployment. The power should be the means of pumping water on the high levels from the creeks, which could not previously be worked, while the reticulation of Totara Flat and Rotomanu will soon be completed.

Two of the lorgest undertakings essential to the full development of the West Coast have now been completed, the Otira Tunnel and the provision of adequate electricity by the cheapest process, whilst there is a proposal for tlie development of a new industry to obtain the bye-products of coal by pulverisation and distillation, for which there has been an option obtained over the oßard’s present steam generating plant. It is satisfactory to reflect that the new scheme has been introduced without the imposition of a rate and without the prospect of one. The Board will doubtless arrange in time a superannuation scheme for its employees. Given a trade revival, such as the lifting of the depression, now commencing, would proimsc, the unemployment problem should ere long find a solution, a.nd when the slump has gone, our outlook will be an excellent one. Power Prices From the undermentioned figures, it will be seen that with the advancement of electrical installation in the district prices have bec n reduced by half in most cases compared with the original charges, and further reductions will no doubt be made when all of the areas have, been fully reticulated. The fol- i towing are the rates charged at the) present time by the Board for the

supply of electrical energy, with comparisons of original charges given i° parentheses:— Lighting: 7d p r unit for the first JOO units per month, 4d per unif for additional supply over JOO units, (fid). Minimum charge i s 4/- per month. Jiomeslic heating and Cooking: Id (2d) per unit. Minimum charge 2/6 per month per Kilowatt of connected load. Water Heating Special Rat *: ]d (Ad) per unit. Commercial Radiator Service: 1/1 (’*><!) p'T unit. Minimum charge 2/i» por kilowatt of connected load during suniimer months and 5/- ier Kilowatt of connected load during winter months. Ordinary Power Rate: Id (2d) per unnit. Minimum charge 2/6 (5/-) per h.p. or Kilovolt ampere of connected load ])('r month ns decided l>y the Boa rd. Sp“cial Power Rate; 1/1 per unit where Ihe consumer guarantees a consumption of 60 px i r cent, of installed c.a] acity per month based on S-hour working day, 25 days per month for period of not. less Ilian three years. Special rates are available tn cousnniers who are prepared to enter ini a a. contract for a term of years -o take Power over long periods (luring the 2 1 hours: £4/5/- r>,er KA.A. per aiiiiiiin, plus ,}d per KAV.IT. Large Consumers Industrial consumms are:— Coal-niin ng: Dobson Wallseml, Blackball and Co-operative mines. Gold-mining: Brian Born Dredge. Sawmilling: Red Jack< and Kokiri Mills. Railway Workshops. Greymouth. Dispatch Roundly, Greymouth. Borough of Greymouth: Street Lighting. Waterworks, and Stone-crushing plaid. “Groy River Argus”: Linotypes, jobp'r’nting presses, and other machines. SOME STATISTICS The following figures illustrate the development of electrical usage and the financial results for the Board since the inception of the enterprise: — Profit

The power and lighting necessary for the construction of the Hydro and the comfort of the Board 4 s employees at Kaimata, was carried out by the newly established firm of Kent and Stevens, Greymouth. The loan to reticulate the Ahauri and surrounding districts at Rotomanu is well in hand, and it is hoped that in no time it will be necessary to raise the dam an extra ten feel, when the venture should prove to Im one of the most successful in New Zealand hydro annals.

Consurer Revenus & Loss 1926/27 739 £9028 Dr. £6264 1927/28 £1454 £18045 Dr. £7619 1928/29 .1807 £20808 Dr. £8052 2088 £26868 Dr. £4267 1930/31 2358 £33055 Cr. £4022 1931/32 2566 £32177 Cr. £3020 1932/33 £33405 (estimated)