POWER FROM ARAPUNI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20244, 2 May 1929, Page 14

POWER FROM ARAPUNI.

COMPLETION OF FIRST UNIT.

TURBINE TESTS SATISFACTORY.

FINAL ADJUSTMENTS IN HAND.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Wednesday. With tho completion shortly of No. 3 unit at tho Arapuni power house, power should be available before the prescribed time, Juno 1. When this unit is in working order, 15,000 kilowatts will be available for transmission to Auckland.

At present there are three units, each consisting of a turbine and generator, in course of construction. Tho No. 3 unit is nearost completion. During tho past month the engineers have been busily engaged on this unit, while attention has also been given to the others. Tuning up work on the No. 3 unit is in operation. A pilot governor was set in motion last evoning, and the last test to bo made for tho starting of the turbine proved satisfactory. Tho turbine will bo set in motion within the next few days, excavation in tho tail race, through which the water will run after passing through the turbine, has been completed, and all pumping operations have ceased. Only final adjustments and drying out have to be completed to enable tho unit to generate power.

Although tho unit is officially reckoned to produce 15,000 kilowatts, its actual producing capacity should be slightly in excess of this amount. Most of this power will go direct to Auckland, to the Penrose sub-station. The power will be used by the Auckland Electric-Power Board and the Waitemata Power Board, and will serve to relieve the King's Wharf •station and the Horahora plant. Final preparations are being made at Penrose to receive the power. The other two units are expected! to be ready before the end of the year, and a grant has been authorised for the installation of a fourth unit. So far as the lines to Auckland are concerned everything is in readiness for the transmission of power, and the completion of tests on the No. 3 unit marks the final stage in the first transmission of power. Tho completion of the main construction will mean putting off a great deal of the unskilled labour. Already many men have received notice, and' more will bo paid off shortly.