Power Progress

Northland Age, Volume XII, Issue 45, 19 August 1943, Page 2

Power Progress

The Bay of Islands Power Board’s Consulting Engineer (Mr. Lloyd Mandeno) furnished the following report on the activities of the Board’s staff during June and July : Bay County.—Supply was commenced to the Kawiti ballast pit on the 10th June. Transformers were erected for cowshed installations at Millington’s, Towai, and at Dalton’s, Taheke Road, Kaikohe. Reconstruction of service line to the new soldiers’ block, Kawakawa, was carried out, and three services run in Kaikohe. Dismantling of the installations and service lines for dismantled army camps and the sorting of salvaged material has been carried on, on instructions from the P.W.D. A measuring weir has been installed at the head of the first fall in the Utakura Stream, Lake Omapere, and the records of various hydrological features are being analysed. Kerikeri Plan!.—With a view to obtaining the fullest assistance from this plant, the tailrace has been deepened, and we propose to extend the draught tube so as to get full advantage of the available fall. For an appreciable period during the summer

the now from the Kerikeri stream is insufficient to keep this plant running at full output, and we would recommend that steps be taken to obtain the necessary authority for the diversion of portion of the flow of the Puketotara Stream into the Kerikeri. This can readily be done by a comparatively inexpensive diversion near the old bridge on the Ohaeawai-Wai-iftpa road. Conditions have altered since our original survey for this diversion were made, and fresh surveys will be necessary. We recommend that authority be given for this to be done, so that exact estimates may be submitted to the Board. Mangonui County.—An extension has been run for supply to a beacon light west of Waipapakauri Aerodrome. 40 chains of L.T. lines were run and 7 services connected. 14 yards of metal were placed in the : Depot yard, whilst metal and clay were carted in connection with the erection of garages at the Power Board residences. Systematic line maintenance was carried out in various districts.

Awanui Standby Plant.—This plant is being run 5 afternoons per week from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. generating approximately 400 units per day. For this the Government is being charged cost plus 10 per cent, but there is an outstanding matter under negotiation regarding the proportion of standing charges for which the Government should accept responsibility. Power Consumption.—During July the weekly power purchased from the Department increased from 157,000 I units per week to 167,000. These figures show a rise of only 2 or 3 per cent over last year, so that we are well within our 10 per cent increase quota at present.