King Country Chronicle. Wednesday, July 12, 1939. WAIRERE POWER GENERATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4809, 12 July 1939, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Wednesday, July 12, 1939. WAIRERE POWER GENERATION.

In this issue the chairman of the Wairere Power Board, Mr. R. Boddy, answers our correspondent "Candlelight" as to the future of the electric power generating set at Wairere Falls, and in doing so he appears to make a sound case for the adherence of the Board to the presence source of supply for the time being at least. In the future there must come a time when the Wairere Board will have to link up with the national system. The shortage of power experienced during this autumn's phenomenally dry spell has shown that the output of power at the falls cannot be extended beyond the limits set by more efficient machinery, conservation of the water at the head of the falls, and the utilisation of the maximum head of water by the deepening of the tailrace. That fact, however, is not one that should deter the Board from making the best economical use of the sources of power which are available. And there can be no doubt that the Wairere generation of electricity is economic; only the low cost of generation has enabled the amenities of electricity to be brought to a total of over 500 consumers in the Board's area. The important part that the cost of bulk power must play in the reticulation of country districts will be realised when it is stated that in the Waitomo Power Board's annual report it is stated that for every £1 of revenue received 7s lid is paid for bulk power. There would perhaps be greater efficiency with the linking up with the national scheme, but it would be necessary to pay for it; and with the completion of the present programme of works at the falls the consumer of the Wairere Power Board has far greater security than ever before, and at a cheap cost. The actual details of the works referred to are not known to,

us, but Mr. Boddy in his annual report to the Board in May stated £3OOO was raised during the year for improvements at the headwords and at the power station, and capital work performed at the falls exceeded the money raised for the purpose by £ISOO. Even if the lines were linked with the national system this money would not be wasted, for it scarcely seems conceivable that such an efficient generating unit as that at Wairere would ever be closed down. As the Board's consulting engineer, Mr. L. Mandeno, says, recent experience has shown the need to preserve all economic power sites of the country. The more efficient runner and improvements to the headrace and tailrace should do much to help the machine carry, for the time being, the increased load resultant from the recent extensions and development, and with the renovation and improvement of the main generating set, and with a standby set available, it appears likely that the interruptions to supply which have occurred in the past will be largely, if not completely, obviated in the future.