ELECTRIC POWER

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1936, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER

fW. COAST SCHEMES GOVERNMENT PLANS ANNOUNCED (Per Pres« Association. —Copyright.) WELLINGTON, May 27. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, stated to-day, subject to certain contracts being completed, the Government will be proceeding immediately wit!) the scheme for the, making'of electric power available on the West Coast » of the South Island. ■.

Mr Semple said he had come to the conclusion that the best method ot meeting the future demand, for some time at least, was to connect up tiie West Coast with the existing ColeridgeWaitaki system, by means of a trails-, mission line. The line would go by way of Arthur’s Pass.

'This plan had been submitted to Cabinet, and, subject to certain conditions ns to guaranteed contracts, it had been approved. The Engineers of • his Department, he said, had been. instructed to proceed i» the meantime with all, of the preliminary work as a matter of urgency. - - : •> ’ ‘ ■■ The Minister said that for three ihonths officers of. the electrical branch 'of his department,, have carried out, surveys and investigations a s to the possible sources of power, and several schemes . had been investigated. The ones which appear most promising, and’ which in consequence ha.‘ been investigated ip most detail, are those on the rToaroha River (Kokatahi district) and' the Kakapotahi (or Little Waitaha) River. To make either of these reliable, during possible periods of low water, it would be necessary to provide faiily expensive dams to conserve the water. He would only’embark upon a scheme of this nature when he could see that it possessed possibilities of expan-sion-to meet the' increasing demands, which he felt sure would be made upflu it- s ; v. ■ .1

After fully considering these factors, .he had with the advice of the officers, com e to the conclusion that the best method of meeting a-future demand for ( some time. was to connect the West j Coast with the Coleridge-Waitaki sys- ( tern, on' the eastern side of the ranges, -by means of a transmission line via Arthur’s Pass. j

The construction of the transmission line over the Pass would, proceed as soon as the necessary materials could he obtained. .. !

.It was proposed to build a double circuit 66,000 volt line from Lake Coleridge via Cass- and Arthur’s Pass to | a central point. on, the. West, Uogst. from which other lines would radiate to supply dredges as required, and to augment the general supply in the district at present administered bv the Grey Power Board, and by AY estland power Limited. •'

Mr Semple said' lie could visualise a main, high tension transmission line running along the Coast from South Westland up. to Reefton, and beyond. To begin, with, this would be supplied from the existing power plants in Canterbury, where there was ample power to spare, but later would be supplied in addition to by . one or more power stations to be built on the Qoast itself. %

"Local stations certainly had limitations, oiwng to periods of low water, but if they were connected into the general Government system, they could be justifiably developed to considerably greater extent, as their period of low. flow would snot necessarily coincide with the low flow for stations in Canterbury. where considerable storage was available. It- might be that with the two systems interconnected, power for .periods would be supplied from the'West Coast for use on the eastern side of the ranges.