STANDBY PLANT

Northern Advocate, 4 August 1932, Page 6

STANDBY PLANT

ARAPUNI POWERS GENERATION MAY CEASE. LEAKAGE NOT LOCATED. HEADRACE TO BE EMPTIED/ (Special to "Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day.

The temporary stoppage of the Arapuni hydro-electric works is imminent. The Auckland Electric Power Board tills morning received advice from Mr McLennan, District. Electrical Engineer, to have steam up at the King’s Wharf, in readiness to bring the station into full operation between 4 and 5 p.m. today for the supply of power to the Auckland province.

The decision whether it will be necessary to dewater the head-race to enable it to be thoroughly inspected will be made this afternoon at Arapuni, on the arrival from Wellington of Mr F, W. Furkert, Engineer-in-Chief, and Mr F. T. M. Kissel, Chief Electrical Engineer of the Public Works Department.

Dewatering Certain. It has been hoped that the source of the leakage would be detected and the trouble remedied without emptying the head-race, and so stopping the turbines, but from the warning received by the Auckland Power. Board it appears a foregone conclusion that the head-race must be dewatered before any remedial measure can be taken. The Auckland Power Board has made the necessary arrangements to take over the load this afternoon, and keep the province supplied until further notice, in the same manner as it mot the emergency when Arapuni broke down in 1930.

The warning the Auckland Power Board received to get King’s Wharf station ready came by telephone from Air McLennan, District Electrical Engineer at Hamilton, to Air H. R. Bartley, General Manager of the board. Mr McLennan intimated that an official letter was being forwarded asking the hoard to get steam up at King’s Wharf in readiness to take over the load at between 4 and 5 p.m. today.

King’s Wharf Responsibility. “That means,’’ said Air Bartley, “tliqt avg will get ready'for the generation of approximately 34,000 k.w. This will leave ns Avith about 7000 k.w. in reserve. Previously, Avhen we took over the load, we generated to full capacity— 4l,ooo k.Av—but then Horn Horn AA r as closed doAvn, AA’hich is not the case today, and that plant Avill bo able to supplement the Auckland supply by from 12,000 to 14,000 k.w. Of course, if it is found necessary, and the supply is required, avo can generate 41,000 k.AA\ all the time.’’

Asked what he thought the message indicated as far as Arapuni was concerned, Air Bartley said lie took it ti mean that the head-race Avas to be deAvatered, thus stopping the turbines. Air Bartley said that the temporary running of King’s Wharf station Avould not inA’olve the engagement of many extra hands, but if the stoppage at Arapuni Avas prolonged more staff Avoijlld be essential, especially in the case of fitters. They had no apprehension in regard to coal supply. Four AA'ceks ’ supply was in sight at present, and the amount used Avould be a quantity in the vicinity of 4000 tons a week.

A Coincidence. “Tt is rather a coincidence that avg Avere only on Avater poAver three months Avlien Arapuni Avas closed doAvn in 3930, and it is only three months since the generation-of the hydro-electricity was resumed,’’ said Mr J. W. Holdsworth, chairman of the Auckland PoAver Board. “It is extremely disappointing,’’ he said, “seeing that our Avhole system has been laid out for running on Avater power. The increased cost of running the King’s Wharf station under these conditions is something in the vicinity of £50,000 a year extra, but fortunately, under the terms of our agreement, the Government Avill have to bear this cost, so that it Avill not mean any inroads on the revenue of the board. Under the old agreement the extra cost Avas shared 50-50 between the Government and the board, but the neAv agreement stipulated that the Auckland station is to be looked upon as a standby for the province, tlio cost of running to be borne by the Government.

“The board will go on generating and supplying just as if Arapuni were operating,” continued Mr Holdsworth. “Any of the other boards which we supply will be on a basis as if the Government were supplying them, although the current actually is being generated at the King's Wharf plant. “We anticipate no trouble in regard to coal supplies,”, said Mr Holdsworth, “and as we use, on full load, up to 4000 tons a week, it will mean extra activity in the mines, and, of course, extra .freight 'for the Railways Department, freights alone will be on a basis of £IOO,OOO a year paid by the board. The e-ontract wo had when Arapuni was ‘silent’ comes automatically into action again despite any break. It is reported from Putaruru that the works at Arapuni have boon closed to visitors as from today. This further confirms the belief that the department heads intend to decide on dewatering the headrace, “As far as we know, we have do finitely to take over the load, at 4.30

p.m. today,” said Air W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of the board, this afternoon. “That is an indication that dewatering is to be carried out.”