TROUBLE AT MANGAHAO

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12470, 11 June 1926, Page 6

TROUBLE AT MANGAHAO

, SHORTAGE OF WATER AUXILIARY PLANTS TO THE RESCUE FULL LOAD AT EVANS BAY Word has been received that owing to the combination of a dry spell and exceedingly heavy demand for current there is a threatened shortage of water at the liydro-electrio works at Mangahao. The position became so serious that it was .reported the Public Works Department contemplated calling on the auxiliary plants for assist- ■ ance in the area served by Mangahao. This lias not been done, and the Palmerston North station has been working full time supplying “juice” back to the Mangahao system, and the eiec- , trical engineer, Mr J. W. Muir, says he will continue to do so until further notice. Evans Bay plant, Wellington, has been working at full load all this week to augment the supply of power. The fact that already Mangahao is working aver capacity 6hows how rapid has been the growth of the demand for electricity throughout the Wellington province. The winter load has probably not yet reached its peak, which shows that Mangahao will be hard jiut to it to keep up with the great demand. When the third dam is completed the situation will be considerably eased, but it appears obvious that Waikarerooana must be speeded up to meet future requirements. Up to the present time the Wanganui supply of 1000 kilowatts is still coming to hand, but the board has been notified to be prepared for a reduction. The authorities locally think that the Mangahao shortage may be due to ice on the higher levels.