PROPOSED EXTENSION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 297, 13 November 1934, Page 7

PROPOSED EXTENSION.

POWER LINE REPORT. POOR REVENUE PROSPECTS. “This proposition has been chained np from Kimbolton Road to enable the preliminary estimate to be computed. It would involve six miles 11 chains (approximately) of line for 16 proposed consumers,” stated the chief engineer (Mr W. A. Waters) in -a report to tho Manawatu-Oroua Power Board, yesterday afternoon, on the possibility of supplying electricity to Armadale and Taonui Road. He estimated the capital cost at £2030 4s, and the revenue recpiired to give a return of 17J per cent, was £355 ss. The revenue at pre. sent available was estimated at £156 Bs, giving a return of only 7.7 per cent. “In any case the proposed supply from Kimbolton Road is not practical,” added the engineer, “as it involves over a mile of line to Armadale without a consumer en route, as against practically the same distance fnom the existing 11,000-volt line at Colyton, with one consumer en route, which was laid off originally to feed the area. A supply from Kimbolton Road would involve transmitting tho power approximately six miles farther than from tho Colyton end. However, the capital cost of either supply point is not involved, the Colyton one being approximately the same cost.” Disappointment at the poor revenue returns in immediate prospect was voiced by Mr W. P. Bickers, on whoso suggestion the investigation had been undertaken. He said settlers in other areas should contribute something to bridge the gaps in the sparsely settled sections. The engineer commented that tor two miles of the proposed line there was only a revenue prospect of £J per annum. That made it impossible. It would probably be to deal with the reticulation of Taonui Road alone. Permission was given Mr Bickers to prosecute further inquiries among prospective consumers along the route.