MANGAHAO SCHEME

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11686, 26 November 1923, Page 6

MANGAHAO SCHEME

HYDRO-ELECTRICAL WORKS. MINISTERIAL VISIT. The fine weather prevailing lately has enabled work in connection with the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme to be pushed on -with a greater celerity than has formerly been possible. The progress made during recent weeks has been very marked, bringing the big underbaking more within the prediction made by the Hon. Mr Coates (Minister for Public W r orks), that current would be available from Mangahao in June next. If the present fine weather spell lasts a little longer, it will secure some of the big jobs now underway at the works from interference from any storm that may afterwards occur; and there have been many that have made their effects severely felt since the scheme has been under way. Recently a start was made to concrete the floor of the Mangahao dam. This woik has progressed steadily, and some very difficult engineering hurdles have been successfully cleared. The work is also going on merrily and rapidly at the power house. The men engaged on the building have now reached the roof level. BIG OBSTACLES OVERCOME. The huge that have had to be overcome by the engineers and their staffs are considerable. These obstacles cannot very well be described, but can be appreciated by those who visit the works. When the scheme has reached completion, which is not very far distant now, and the Wellington people are receiving the cheap current the scheme will make possible, then will it. be appropriate to offer congratulations to the Government and to the men who have plodded away so doggedly at the big undertaking. On Friday a visit was paid in beautiful weather to the Mangahao works by the Hon. Sir Francis Bell (ActingPrime Minister) and the Hon. R. F. Bollard (Minister for Internal Affairs). The Ministerial party included Mrs and Miss Bollard-, Mrs Hunter and Mr L. Birks (head of the Government’s Hydro-£lecrtrical Department) and his assistant (Mr F. T. M. Kissel). In company with Mr A. Dinnie (district engineer) and Mr A. Gavey (district electrical engineer), the visitors were shown over much of the works. “I have long waited an opportunity to see Mangahao,” said the Hon. Mr Bollard, in conversation with a “Times” reporter on Saturday. “The colossal nature of tho work strikes one greatly. From what I saw in going over the comprehensive works with the engineers, the difficulties that engineering skill have overcome are very apparent; and the men working on the job seen to me to be deser-ring of high praise When the undertaking has •been completed, I should say that the Mangahao hydro-electrio works, which are situated' amid picturesque bush scenery, will bo a great attraction to visitors from Wellington.”