THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC MOVEMENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 154, 2 July 1920, Page 7

THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC MOVEMENT.

[to the editor.]

Sir,—The relative merits, of different power-generating projects capable tof supplying: demands in the northern (portions of the South Island have given rise to a good deal of discussion of la be, but so far no solid reason has been deduced, to depart from Mr [Parry's recommendations to harness [Lakes Kototfoa and llotoiti. Mr Evan Parry., who all will admit is a toal expert, one of the world s leading authorities on hydro-electric twarks, writes: "Generally speaking, ■a water-power of less than IUjUUU Sumo-power camot be economically developed. . - Small powers are unduly costly. .'. The .cost of •loptiation, attendance, etc., is much the same for a small plant as for a large plant. 1' All through, his re-jpt-rts He persistently advises the^ harnessing of big water-power as being jfar cheaper. . . , • a.c Piiom/a purely provincial point or fview the big schente would cost no Snore than, say, Waihopai. The YVaiihopai scheme is estimated to cost approximately £200,000. The big big scheme is estimated to cost £450,000; Sfcut even if it cost £600,000., which is teurely a big enough margin, the cost (to Marlborough. would not exceed 1i'200,000. This would mean the large scheme at the cost of the tomaller, with plenty of reserve power. At Lake Botorojt no big dam is required, but at Waihopai a high dam [is necessary—a most dangerous unIdertaking in earthquake, country, fl'he dam ait Te Awamutu carried jsu-ay lately and left that town without light and water. A careful study of Mr E. Parry's repoits will show •how* he keeps away from high dams. Eheie have been many unwise things |done by ourlocal bodies in the past, Jbut let us hope they will spare us this {mistake. ' Arguments are being used that current would not be available along the troute of the transmission lines ex|cept near cosily sub-stations. Sir, gfc does not ned'l much foresight to (see in the not distant future an electric railway up the "Waii-at: Valley {and in other directions. The same [feeders that supplied- the railway rwould be used to supply the settlers. \ 3\fr E. Parry lays it down clearly in • 3ns report that iiis scheme would ! tmake power available, with ths co- < (operation of tho local authorities, for ; ie\ery householder and for any indus-tt-r\- requiring, po.ver, for main-pine, (railways, light railways, mines, en-elting, and for any other purpose . Me also states that ample power was immediately available, and that, if tnt'cessary, additional power could be (Obtained from the same sources. v \ \ Our Nelson friends are considering Spending something in the region of i£SO,OOO on a steam-generating plant : fto meet their immediate requirements, this is to be used as a stand- . fey plant (which is .really not necesfeary Jit all) when hydro-electric ffxn^er is available. On this point it Ss interesting to see what Mr L. JBirkß,.Chief .Electrical Engineer, said jin his 1919 report on Lak3 Coleridge. iAfter dealing with the hold-up occasioned by the effect of a phenomenal fcnow storm, Mr Birks said "Apart from .that./ . . no interruption of eerviee of more than a few seconds |ha>s occurred dui-ing the year.'' • . iconneoted load of 30,000 horse-power bailable at the Lakes. Of this iVw i pioposed immediately to develop «UiJU Sjcrse-power, which, allowing for the idheersity factor, would mean a total connected load of 30,000 horse-power It^efore extensions would be necessary. , fThe diversity factor, it may be .exipiained, is. thei difference between She total connected load and the anaximum being used at one time. JTheFe figures are based on Dunedm >. tend Lake Coleridge experience. KILO WAIT.