ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12211, 5 March 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUCKLAND

HARNESSING THE HUKA FALLS.

"'. ''.',/.. ; , ' WfeLMif6TON,\.Ma)'ch-2. Mb Allo, the Swiss eleotrical engineer, who is just now in Wellington,' has given a : representative of ; the Post some inpressions of his recent visit to the Hilka Falls. After inspecting the Huka ' Falls With tWo Government engineers," said Mr. Alio, "I find that the falls are capable of giving in the dry season, taking the water at the lowest safe coefficient" 39,000 horsepower; with very small initial cost for hydraulic power installation "expenses. This is really the easiest power to be worked I •have come across, because there are no technical difficulties to V' be overcome. 'This power, 39,000 horse, can easily be directed into four quarters, one of which Would go north to Auckland and Thames, one south to Wellington and the provinces, one to Tarafaaki; and one to the Napier district. This power WoUld also yield ' the power necessary to run all the' North Island railways :by electricity. ; ' The present steam : railways of the North Island'use'4ooo horse-, power. Increase this horse-power to 9000 for railways, and there' Would then be 30,000 horse-power for distribution' among the several , industrial ; centres. -;;,. Of; course, any industry, Or any machinery can be run electrically, as the speed of ; the machine or power does hot interfere with the f use of electrical power.: Anything from a 'sewing machine to a big freezing plant, or an electrical v.; tramway .'j comes . under the ; electrical nower factor.;'. In the North Island there are a great many industries that can Utilise electrical power with greater economy, compared With the steam power they are using now. The steatn horse-power has-got to be reckoned as costing £7 to £7 10s a year allowing for boilers and attendance oi the best grade. ; Without wishing to go at present > into the cost at which an electrical horse-power will be able to be delivered to the industry;; I should say that, at least 33 per cent, could be economised by tlie industrial power absorbers, or in other words, that the electrical power;, could be delivered at from £4 to £6 per horse-power per year, according to : the annual quantity absorbed •/- that is to say, the greater the amount absorbed the greater proportionately would be the 1 discount in the cost of the power, ;" It stands. to reason that with this difference in initial power prices a great many industries can .spring up and start; at a fair competition with foreign competitors.