WILD WASTES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 November 1924, Page 5

WILD WASTES

PUT TO MAN’S USE. RUSHING TORRENTS. CAPTURED BY ENGINEERS. (By Telegraph— Special rto. the Star.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 4. The Mangahao electric power scheme received its official start today amid popular rejoicings at Shannon, the x nearest town to the powerhouse, which :; will eventually distribute 30,000 horse-power of energy north to Wanganui and south to Wellington, 60 miles distant; also into Hawke’s Bay, and ultimately linking with Arapum and Waikaremoana when all generators are working. Wellington will take approximately half the output. The engineering details are well known, but one aspect of the utilisation of 1 the deep gorges lying in the ranges behind Shannon is well put by Mr. Furkert, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department, who says: “Power at Mangahao is derived by shortening the path towards the sea. of the Mangahao ;by diverting" it through the main ridge of the Tararua Range. It rises in some of the wildest country of the North Island, country which until to-day.has returned to the services of man practically nothing. However,. the turning on of power , means bringing into the field of usefulness this land, so that henceforth it will be practically as productive as the plains below Mangahao. The catchment area is capable of producing approximately ■me horse-power per acre working 12 hours per day without getting tired, never dying of old age. “An acre of the 'best of our fertile flats,’’ added Mr. Furkert, “cannot do much more than sustain one horfie.”