MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 29 May 1944, Page 4

MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

WHOLE DISTRICT ON NEW SUPPLY TO-DAY (Special to "Mail”) Wellington. This Day, An official announcement that power from the Cobb hydro electric scheme had been switched on was made by the Hon. R. Semple. Minister of Works, to* day. The Minister said that following e* successful pressure tests of the pipeline at Cobb river the pipeline was filled on Saturday. 20th May. No serioutp trouble had been experienced and after adjustments to the generating machinery supply was given to the Golden Bay Cement Co. and Golden Bay Power Board on Tuesday last. By yesterday three generators had been adjusted and as certain work required to make the Upper Takaka* Stoke line ready for service at 66.00 R volts had been completed the Waime* and Nelson plants were connected ta» the Cobb station yesterday afternoon at 5 o’clock. “It will be recalled that the Upper Takaka-Stoke 66.000 volts line has been used at 11,000 volts to inter-connect th# district stations pending completion ot the Cobb scheme,” he said. "The vatu# to the district of that inter-connection was shown at the time of the recent trouble at the Nelson City plant. When this trouble occurred the City Council was able to purchase power from the Golden Bay Cement Company and so Ue»ep supply going to its consumers. "Following the linking up with the Cobb, the Waimea and Nelson stations are not now in operation. Cobb power was supplied to Motueka to-day.”

OPERATION OF NEW TARIFFS The official opening of the Cobb supply by the Minister of Works (the Hon. R. Semple) has been tentatively arranged for 13th June at the Stoke sub-station. The new tariffs consequent on Cobb electricity becoming available are expected to operate from Thursday. Ist June, in Nelson and from Ist July m the Waimea area.