WAIPORI POWER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19135, 1 April 1924, Page 7

WAIPORI POWER

DRY WEATHER CONTINUES. RIVER STILL FALLING. STREET LIGHTING CUT OUT The position as regards the supply of electric power .’rom the Waipori River is daily growing worse, consequent on the long spell of dry weather. All the electric street lights were cut out last night, and the city Will remain in comparative darkness from now on till sufficient rain falls at Waipori to enable the electric generators to be run at full strength. Moreover, for turn days every week— Friday and Saturday—until the position is relieved the manufacturing concerns utilising electric power will have to close down. This means (hat a large number of men will bo thrown out of work, and that the outputs from the various industries will be largely reduced. Mr M. C. Henderson, city electrical engineer, stated to a limes reporter yesterday that Lake Luella—one of the supply reservoirs for the Waipori River—was now empty ; that the other supply reservoir— Lake Loudon—was being off. and that under the-existing conditions it would be emptied by the end of the week. The position will then be that fhe power house will only be supplied by water from the flow in the river itself. On Saturdays and Sundays the call on the Waipori power is reduced, and last Saturday and Sunday the workmen at Waipori were able to stop drawing on Lake Loudon. Yesterday, however, said Mr Henderson, the loading was as high as ever, consumers taxing all the power available. To enable the corporation to keep going as long as possible it has been decided, as already stated, to cut out the street lights and reduce the supply to factories. In their attempts at saving water the corporation «m also be greatly assisted by householders. There are about 16,000 consumers under this heading, and if they will only, use one light instead of, say, two, three, or four, they will render a great service in helping to tide over the position. They will alsp have the satisfaction of knowing that they are doing something to keep.jnen in work. An a matter of fact, quite a number".‘of householders are restricting their demand, and last Saturday and Sund. y there was not the same draw off of power as is usually experienced for these two days. Of the stand-by plant only the 750 E.p. Diesel engine is at present working- -The 500 h.p. engine met with a mishap last Sunday week—the compressor of the cylinder breaking—and it will not be available again till to-mbrrow. These two engines are able f.o supply sufficient electric power to run the trams on a, light loading, but they have to be augmented by the Waipori ‘ power when the loading iq heavy. ~ Mr Henderson stated in conclusion that if the flow in the Waipori River bocKffio even more reduced they would simply haye to cut off complete circuits (pr sections) in the city. No doubt the arrangement will be to cut out the circuits alternately, and; >0 give everyone a share of the power that.is going. i ' '- '-’T CITY TRAMWAYS. „ - REDUCTION IN SERVICES. i The regular tramway services will bo run as usual during the day and evening, biR the period of running will be reduced’by one hour as from to-day, so far as ‘ the electrically-driven trarncars aro concerted. That is to say, a last oar will run frOrt so many minutes past 10, instead of so many minutes past 11. Last night some of the rush “specials’' were cut out. and to-day a further reduction will be made in specials. The cable trams to Momington, Boslyn, and Kaikorai are not affected, as they orp propelled by steam power. Tho electric ally-driven extension cars to Marvhill and Maori Hill, however, will stop running *h hour earlier than usual, in conformity with the restrictions in the city service. The question of further reduction* will bo considered as the occasion arises. HOUSEHOLD WATER SUPPLY. RESERVOIRS STEADILY FALLING. The supply of water to the city is steadily diminishing. At tho present time there is a difference in the inflow to the reservoirs and the drawoff of from half o million to three-quarters of a million on the wrong side. The reservoirs, however, were some 4,000,000 or 5,000,000 1 gallons lower at the beginning of the month than they aro to-day. Rain fell when the stored water was falling ouickly, and this, with heavy fogs oh the hills and cooler weather, enabled tho position to improve. Hoc winds and a bright sun have again been experienced during tbe last week or two. and the rate of evaporation has increased considerably. There is nc immediate danger of a water famine, but the corporation authorities are closely watching _ the run-in and drawoff at the reservoirs, and, if it is necessary, they will take further steps tu conserve the stored water.