KAPONGA POWER SUPPLY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 November 1924, Page 4

KAPONGA POWER SUPPLY.

SOLUTION OF DIFFICULTIES. PIPE LINE RECONSTRUCTION. [A successful conclusion to the efforts of the Kaponga Town Board to cope with the difficulties lately experienced with the hydraulic pipe line used in connection with the electric power scheme and obviate the hindrance to the efficient operation of the plant now appears to be in sight.] At a special meeting held last week between representatives of the Board and the Kaponga Dairy Co. a report received from Mr H. W. Climie, consulting engineer, was considered, and subject to the approval of the- Town Board and the Dairy Co. directorate, action was decided upon which it is hoped will place the pipe line in a condition fit to withstand the full pressure required without interruption., At the monthly meeting of the Town Board held on Tuesday evening,

lengthy discussion was devoted to the findings of the special meeting. A re? port of the special- meeting prepared by the town clerk (Mr G. P. Cook) stated that the chairman (Commissioner A. R. Bates) and Crs. R. A. Law and D. J. Kehely. together with the Kaponga Dairy Co.’s coniniittee appointed to carry out new works on the hydraulic head works and pipe linej had been in attendance. The special report of Mr H. W. Climie on the condition of the pipe line and repairs made during the current year had been presented. The meeting had agreed that, while the report made no definite rcommendation, it was Mr Climie’s opinion that no repairs of any sort would prove entirely satisfactory in view of the fact that the Board had no other standby, and that the pipe line should be replaced. By means of a graph, the' Board’s engineer (Mr A. E. Moss) had shown that the number of feet of head pressure'at indicated portions of the line were: At the turbine 43ft, surge towers 33ft, Bates’ property 22ft, Blackwell’s property 17ft. dam intake 13ft. The engineer had explained that the portion of the line of 27 by 27 inches dimension, commencing at the surge tower and continuing to Mr Bates’ property, was bearing, since, the ! build : ing of the new .dam, the same pressure at the top end that it previously bore at the lower end by the surge tower. Replying to Cr. Ldw, the engineer had pointed out that if >a 36-inch pipe was built over the whole length, .sufficient water could be maintained to supply 160 h.p. throughout the season, because owing, to the consequent lessening of frietion, every gallon of water would do greater work than at present. The engineer had also presented figures > estimating the cost at £2 2s 6d per .foot for the replacement of the existing pipe, line with purchased pipes of 36 inches diameter to bear 40lbs. pressure. It had then been decided 'to replace approximately 447 ft of the top portion of the line with pipes of those dimensions at a total estimated cost of £950; that a pressure of 34ft should be maintained Tor the present season, at the end of which a full head test

would be made, and if the lower portions proved unable to take the strain they should be similarly replaced with the larger pipes. ~ If put in hand immediately it was estimated -that the 447 ft of the line could be completed prior to the end of January next, and the engineer had been instructed to proceed with the necessary preparatory work. ' > The Board reviewed the position at length, and after full consideration unanimously approved of the proposed work, and formally resolved, under the agreement between the Dairy Company and the Board, to accept liability, for rent, covering interest and sinking fund charges respecting the amount involved.

The engineer was authorised to proceed with necessary temporary repairs to the line to enable the maintenance of the required pressure pending the completion of the new work in January next. This' temporary work, the engineer estimated, would , enable the Board to meet all requirements without assistance from outside sources.