TAUMARUNUI POWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18665, 22 March 1924, Page 10

TAUMARUNUI POWER.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS.

OPENING BY PREMIER.

" A RED-LETTER DAY."

1.-—SPECIAL REPORTER.] TAUMARUNUI. -Friday

"This is a red-letter day 'in the history of Taumarunui, and it marks another milestone on the road of progress over which tho district is rapidly travelling," said the Prime Minister at "the opening ceremony 'in connection with the new Taumarunui hydro-electric works. Tho function ' was largely attended by residents of Taumarunui, although heavy rain spoiled the complete success of tho gathering. The power-house stands at Piriaka, a few miles from Taumarunui, on a picturesque bend of the Wanganui River. Tho Mayor, Mr. C. C. Marsack, in welcoming Mr. Massey, said that he considered that they were fortunate in "snaring" the Prime Minister to open the works.

Mr. Massoy said that he wished to draw attention to the Mayor's remark. There was a statement in the Old Book, "In vain is the snare spread in the sight of any bird." Mr. Massey sand that he was too old a bird to be caught with chaff. (Laughter.) He congratulated the people of Taumarunui on the important event which was taking place. There was no doubt about the progress of Taumarunui. It was going to be a very important town, and perhaps "no mean city." He referred to the increase in the use of electric power and its advantages as far as the railway service was concerned. He instanced the Otira tunnel, which, he said, was already doing a large business. The Government had been doing a great deal in developing water power which had been allowed to'lie idle since creation. The Government had started with the Lake Coleridge works, which were doing well. The Government intended to follow that up. At this stage heavy rain fell and Mr. Massey formally declared the works open, lhe scheme, which has taken 18 months , complete, has been constructed at a cost of ±!50,000. The engineers were Messrs Hay, Vickerman, and Lancaster, of Wellington. The intake leads to the control gates, and the water is led in an open concrete-lined canal, 760 ft. in length, to the screen chamber. From there a 9f€. reinforced concrete pipe, BCoft. in iCngth, carries the water to the tower, whence it is led through concrete conduits (hrcctlv to the two turbines. These are of a, vertical type, each of 300 horsepower, direct coupled to two 250 K.V.A. generators, and generating at 3000 volts. The station is arranged' oh the semi-auto-matic principle. Should any trouble develop, warning bells ring in the station, and the attendants' cottage. In this way the cost of supervision is reduced to a minimum. Transmission lines are now beinsr constructed to supply Taumarunui and Piriaka, the current being transmitted at 300Q volts. Already over 300 houses at Taumarunui have been connected, and it is anticipated that 95 per cent, of the consumers will be within the next fortnight. Power is also to be supplied to several large commercial concerns.

The works, which are of the low head type, with a fall of water of only 25ft. Sin., have been constructed throughout in reinforced concrete. Althoughonly 600 horse-power is being developed at present, it will be possible to increase this to 2500. and possibly 5600 horse-power, thus making ample provision for future needs. The scheme is expected to be self-supporting in its second year. The evening function was an open-air One in the main street of Taumarunui. On the platform with Mr. Massev were the Mayor and Mr, F. Langstone, M.P. Thero* was a large number of people present. The Prime Minister pressed a button, which switched on the current to the street lamps.