HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17764, 25 April 1921, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

WAIKAREMOANA SCHEME. PROGRESS OF THE WORK. [si TELEOaAI'H.—PrtESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIEH, Saturday. The early completion of the Waikaremoana hydro-electric scheme is definitely assured, according to advice received by the East Coast Development League from a gentleman who is closely in touch with those in charge of the work. Districts which anticipate receiving supplies of electricity from this source are advised by him to be very active from now; onwards to enable them to bo in a position to take current when it is available. The prediction that supplies of power will be early available, however, seems somewhat optimistic. The dominating feature of the Waikaremoana scheme is its simplicity, the natural features of the country providing many of tho element* that are obstacles in the expeditious harnessing of other sources .of supply. The limitless supplv of water, conserved at. a very high altitude, the natural dam—a wall of rock— the ease with which the fall of water is obtained, were deciding point* in the determination of the lake as a source of sunnly for the east coast district. Tho preliminary work, which it must be admitted tho Government has pushed on witth some energy, is tho improvement of the road from Wairoa to the lake, and the construction of a stretch of road to the site of the power house. To carry the heavy traffic that the construction of the power house will entail meant extensive improvements to the road in the way of widening corners, strengthening bridges and metalling, and the termination of this;work possibly now being in sight may account for the local enthusiasm for the expeditious completion of the scheme. It is quite evident, however, that the installation of the power house, the diversion of the streams which issue from many subterranean passages to the Kaitawa Lagoon, whence it is conveyed to the power house 640 ft. below Ihoui'h tint formidable'tasks, will not be accomplished for a number .of years.