LAKE COLERIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20656, 30 August 1930, Page 12

LAKE COLERIDGE.

OUTLOOK FOR POWER BETTER RAIN ENDS DRY SPELL. WATER LEVEL MAINTAINED. [u v TI.i.EiiK.U'H. —rnt:ss association.] CI r UIBTC HU 1> CH. Frid ny. For the. first time since early in March the inflow inlo Lake Coleridge to-day exceeded the outflow for generating electric-power,-and the lake maintained its level. The weather this evening is favourable for rain, and the Public Works Depart incut's engineers are hopeful that by Monday the fear of a power shortage will be materiallv relieved.

For the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. to-day ,48in. of rain fell in the basin of the Harper liiver, making the total ,78in. for the la.st two days. The flow from the Harper liiver into the lake has increased from 170 to 620 cnsecs, and other feeders have added 150 cnsecs.

The rain, although no! heavy, marks the end of a long spell of dry weather nnd makes the position moro hopeful. Tho Mayor has appealed to tho citizens to economise in the uso of current for radiators, water heaters, machinery and shoplighting.

I'nless more rain falls before tho middle of September thero will be no water available from the storage in the lake. The only water available will be from streams flowing into the lake, which are sufficient to carry a load of 8000 kilowatts. The normal load is about 26,00(3 kilowatts.

Tim second intake tunnel at Hit* lake is now covered to a depth of 6ft. of wafer. Men Jiro working with horse, scoops to keep Hie channel open to the first tunnel, but nowhere is the. depth of the channel more, than 3ft. A start lias lieen mado to divert tho Acheron, a small snow-fed streamlet, into the lako. The average How of the Acheron is a I'out. 50 cusecs. The work will cost upwards of £15,000, anil will occupy three months. Tho work cannot possibly be completed in time to relievo the present situation, fur if tho level of tho lake continues to fall at the present rate of 2jft. a month, tho plant will be practically out of action in six weeks.