DEVELOPMENT OF WATERPOWER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10105, 12 October 1917, Page 4

DEVELOPMENT OF WATERPOWER.

THE LAKE COLERIDGE UNDERTAKING. PRELIMINARY WORK IN THE NORTH ISLAND. THE MANGAHAO SCHEME FAVOURED. The Public Works Statement contains the following in reference to the development of water-power in New Zealand: The Lake Coleridge electrical-power undertaking has now completed its second year of operation. The maximum load reached 6250 horse-power, which is in excess of the rated capacity of tho three power units then installed at Lake Coleridge. Since the completion of the financial year, however, tho fourth unit has been put in service, making a total installed capacity of 8000 horse-power. An additional unit of machinery is on order having a capacity of 4000 horsepower, and also material for a pipe-line. The financial results of the year's operations may be considered, satisfactory, and a balanceof £7865 was carried to the net revenuo account. Tlie prospects for the present year are promising, and there is every indication at present that tho undertaking will earn sufficient to meet interest charges and depreciation as well as working expenses. During the year the feeder lines have been extended from Belfast to Kaiapoi, but owing to the lack of material and other considerations extensions in other directions have had to be postponed. Urgent requests have been received from Akaroa, Southbridge, f.eeston, Timaru and other municipalities and districts on tho route of the transmission line from Christchurch to Timaru, but it has been impossible to comply with these requests. Tho demand for power threatons to exceed tho capacity of the present machinery. During the; year considerable progress has been made with the surveys and other preliminary work in connection with the development of hydro-electric "works in tho North Island. Surveys have been completed for headworks on the Mangahao river, at Arapuni on the Waikato river, and a survey of the transmission line between Shannon and Wellington has been completed, whilst a survey of a transmissionline between Auckland and the Waikato river is in progress.

[ lnvestigations have been directed toward* determining the best method of providing a general supply of electricity for the North Island. The indications point to the advisability of developing three sources —namely, the YVaikato river, Waikaremoana, and the Mangahao in the south. Other water-power sources will, in all probability, be developed in course of time, but the three sources mentioned above would constitute the principal sources. A start has been made with the work of ascertaining the power requirements in the Wellington district, and a systematic canvass is being made of the power-users and their requirements ascertained.