THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper. SATURDAY APRIL 5, 1947. Karapiro

Northern Advocate, 5 April 1947, Page 4

THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper. SATURDAY APRIL 5, 1947. Karapiro

It is probable that few people in the Dominion have a clear understanding of the gigantic task upon which the Public Works Department’s engineers and workmen have been engaged during the past six and a half years in constructing a hydro-electricity station at Karapiro, and preparing for a great dam In which to impound water to drive the generators at the station. “Karapiro” has been a household word in recent months, but it is safe to say that, like “that blessed word 'Mesopotamia,” it has not conveyed much of value to its users.

Last night, however, marked a climax which will no doubt induce people to take a deeper interest in a hydro-electricity project of major magnitude. The construction of the dam has been completed, and last night there was lowered into position a 50-ton gate which will close a tunnel through which the waters of the Waikato River have been diverted to allow of the building of the Karapiro power station and the wail of the dam.

The lowering of the control gate constituted a dramatic moment, which marked the first step towards filling a dam that will extend over approximately three square miles of countryside.

When the dam is filled, there will remain the testing, of the 30,000kilowatt generator whose output the North Island is anxiously awaiting. If all goes well, Karapiro will be generating power in a few weeks’ time, but. even if there should be a longer wait,' no one will deny that a remarkable engineering feat has been performed despite difficulties inseparable from a world war of unprecedented dimensions. Immediate increase of electricity output will not accompany the starting of Karapiro’s 30,000-kilowatt generator, for in order to form the big dam which will provide the water-power for the turbines, Horahora power station was last night put out of commission, and will be permanently submerged by the rising waters of the new lake. This station, which has been in existence for 30 years, generated something like 11,000 kilowatts. Therefore,, until Karapiro is functioning fully, the loss of this output must be borne bv consumers.

Last night’s developments mark an epoch in a great and far-reaching scheme whereby water, based on Lake Taupo, will be impounded in a series of 10 dams on the Waikato, driving generators that eventually will yield approximately 800,000 kilowatts.