HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1734, 9 February 1921, Page 8

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

PROGRESS SATISFACTORY AT MAXGAHAO. Mr K. H. Crabb President of the Hydro-Electric League reports on progress at Mangahao as follows: —I urn pleased to be able to congratulate the Minister lor Public Works on the energy and interest lie is displaying in the prosecution of hydro-electric development. It is, indeed, a pleasant. change from the apparent apathy displayed till within the last few years, and the League may feel a justifiable satisfaction at the share it has had in the attainment of such a long desired aim. The works at Mangahao are proccrting satisfactorily and steadily. II is unfortunate that delay is still Ibeing experienced in the arrival of the generators for the temporary power house, and this is in some measure retarding progress. 'Pest holes at the site of the Mangahao dam have also shewn the detritus rock goes to a greater depth than was suspected, thus causing an alteration in design, and will add somewhat to the expense. Below I give a resume of the various works in more detail. Labour: —Approximately 250 men are now employed. Labour is fairly plentiful and conditions of work and wages seem quite satisfactory. Building: Further progress has been made in housing' the staff at the little township at the foot of the hills. The offices at the power house site are also completed and the staff are occupying same. A considerable amount of progress has been made with cook houses, etc., for the men at the Tokomaru Camp. Before winter all necessary buildings should be completed. Shannon Camp:—The temporary power house is now completed. Boiler and engine are installed and all machinery oilier than generators are ready. The generators are still delayed, and it is to be hoped they will soon be to hand, otherwise t?ic matter will be nioi e serious. The transmission here from the power house to Tokomarn Valley is approaching completion, the. poles being- in position over the ridge. Everything is ready for laying' the pipe line from the compressors to the adits on the Arapciti tunnel.

Tokoniaru Camp:—A start, has been made with tlio Arapeiti tunnel from this ond. the excavating 1 being done by hand pending the supply of electric power. Progress is being made with the Kile for the compressors, a start is also lo be made at tliis end of the Mangahao tunnel, but again progress must be slow till hand drilling can be. supersided by electric drills. Mangahao Valley:—Machinfery for driving the compressors is in position and erected. Compressors are also fixed and everything here is ready for a start at once on the Mangahao tunnel. Tenders have been called for drilling at this end, as it is considered advisable this work should lie let by contract. Further tests at the site of the. dam show that the gravel and detritus are a deeper deposit than was suspected, but while this may add somewhat to the cost and to the time necessary to complete, the matter is not regarded as a serious one, the rock walls at. the side of the gorg-e have proved to be quite sound. Transmissions lines:—A. larfve number of the necessary poles for this work have been procured and arc stored in depots at various points. One of the chief difficulties Electric Hoards will be faced with will be the difficulty of providing: the necessary poles and members of the League would be veil advised to face the position without delay. In connection with this, it would bo well if some means could be found to pool the various trying requirements of the Boards, and so prevent the competition for suppliers, which otherwise will probably lead to considerably enhanced costs. Nothing can be done in this matter until the whole of the Power Boards are set tip, but. it would 1»; well if, as soon as possible, a conference of Hoards could be held and

this and other matters of common interest fully discussed.