WAIKATO POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25049, 13 November 1944, Page 6

WAIKATO POWER

A TEN-YEAR PLAN FOUR NEW PROJECTS (0.c.) HAMILTON, Saturday Speaking off the Waikato River hydro-electrical projects at the regional conference of the Auckland branch of tho New Zealand Institution of Engineering, held at Hamilton yesterday and today, Mr A. C. A. Caldwell, district electrical engineer, Hamilton, said that, when Arapuni was completed in 1932, instructions were received to survey the Waikato River with a view to establishing sites for hydro-electric plants at Aratiatia and Huka Falls, but it was only in recent years that the prospects of suitable points between Arapuni and Aratiatia were explored. The original idea was to construct a tunnel 13Jf miles long from Lake Taupo to a point downstream on tho river. This tunnel would have given a head of 500 ft, and a power plant built at the outlet would have generated 300,000 kilowatts. Alternative Schemes Proposed However, investigation showed that the project would have been uneconomical, and as an alternative ten smaller schemes were proposed. These included Arapuni, 146,400 kw. (already built); Karapiro, 90,000 kw. (under construction); Waipapa, 45,000 kw.; Maraetai, 180,000 kw.; Whakamaru, 90,000 kw.; Atiamuri, 50,000 kw.; Ohakuri, 100,000 kw.; Parariki, 20.000 kw.; Aratiatia, 60,000 kw.; Huka Falls, 30,000 kw. Those, excluding Horahora, now generating 10,300 kw., made a total of 811,400 kw, Horahora would be eliminated when the Karapiro Lake was formed. Continuing, Mr Caldwell said that a ten-year plan proposed by the Government embraced the completion of Karapiro, expected to be ready by the winter of 1946, and the construction of schemes at Maraetai, Whakamaru and Ohaknri, which would supply 370.000 kw. These stations, with tho outputs of Arapuni and Karapiro added, would make a total of 506,400 kw. New Transmission System Mr Caldwell said the initial surveys at Karapiro were made by a geologist, Dr Marshal], in 1933, but it was not until 1935, when it was learned that a contracting firm was negotiating for 50-year rights to develop the area as a quarry, that the department bestirred itself and acquired the land for _ a power station site. Drilling and driving and other exploratory work were commenced in 1938.

The present 110,000-volt transmission lines would be inadequate to carry the immense load that was contemplated when the present ten-year plan was completed, Mr Caldwell added. In order to meet the position, it was proposed to construct a system of 220,000volt lines, which would terminate at Otahuhu. TOWN PLANNING AIMS FUTURE OF ROTORU4 ADVICE BY MR J. W. MAWSON (0.C.) ROTORUA, Sunday Rotorua could be as orderly, convenient, healthy and beautiful as its Citizens chose to make it, said Mr J. „W. Mawson, Director of Town Planning, in an address to a special meeting of the Rotorua Borough Council, at which a report on the municipal conference in Wellington was also given by the Mayor, Mr P. A. Kusabs. Apart from its regional functions, Mr Mawson continued, Rotorua would have a national importance, and that aspect of its future was almost incalculable. The tourist traffic was its basic industry and, if other industries were established, they would be better accommodated in adjoining- areas, such as Ngongotaha and Tvoutu. The latter district, having direct access by rail and road, was ideal for the sites of heavy industries, which jt would be wise to discourage in the borough itself. Regarding light industries, which were desirable as making available a diversity of employment and maintaining the unity of the home, the speaker suggested that a block of 30 to 40 acres east of Fenton Street, bounded by the Wairpa Road, would be suitable. The commercial zone should be elastic, so that it could be extended. Over-zoning tended to create fictitious values. It was desirable to have shopping centres at half-mile intervals. The borough had all the powers it needed to control the more blatant and unsightly forms of advertising. In further reference to the possible progress of the town, Mr Mawson 3 pointed out that in any town the total area occupied by industrial and commercial activities was a very small percentage of the whole. Generally, it was less than five acres per 1000 of population. WHITIANGA AND COROMANDEL INTEREST IX DEVELOPMENT (0.C.) COROMANDEL, Saturday The Director of Town Planning, Mr J. W. Mawson, visited Whitianga and Coromandel this week to confer with the chairman of the Coromandel County Council, Mr E. Deeble, on the question of adopting modern town-planning ideas to the settled parts of the county.

Mr Mawson was .shown over the Buffalo Beach and other parts of Mercury Bay, and was greatly impressed with the possibilities. Considerable development is now taking place, in the way of , subdivision of property, and several new houses have recently been erected. The early adoption of a sound scheme of planning would ensure development on right lines, which would be for the ultimate benefit of the property holders and the public generally. Mr Mawson later accompanied Mr Deeble to Coromandel, and inspected the Long Bay Park and township area. THE HOGAN CASE (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Saturday The appeal this week b ( y John Hogan, aged 28, editor and publisher of Democracy, who sought the withdrawal of a direction order received from the district manpower officer, Lower Hutt, that he should accept employment with the Wellington "Woollen Manufacturing Co., has been disallowed by the Wellington Industrial Manpower Appeal Committee.