WAIPORI.

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 25

WAIPORI.

WONDERFUL A.SSET FOR DUNEDIN. Of all the town 3 in New Zealand the Dunedin ratepayers occupy by far the most advantageous position as regards electrio power for running the tramways and other departments of city activities. In Auckland enormous quantities of coal are burnt annually to supply the power for the tramways ; Wellington would, give its eyes, so to speak, for a Waipori power plant; and Christchurch secures its power from the Lake Coleridge electrio service, and has to pay the Government for this power. The great majority of the ratepayers in Dunedin, howcier, human nature being what it is, take Waipori for granted. They do not realise the enormous asset Dunedin lias in Waipori, nor the huge amount of money the city would be required to pay for coal if it had to rely on a steam-driven plant. The Dunedin ratepayers only stop to criticise when the fine Waipori electric service, through occasional unpreventable j means, goes off now and again. Their j rates, however, would necessarily have to be increased, or the tramway fares raised, if there were no Waipori. WHAT CAN BE DONE. It is estimated that the construction of the new dam on the Waipori River will give a storage capacity of 10,000 acre feet, or a total, with Lakes Loudon and Luella, of 13,500 acre feet. This will provide water for 11,000 kilowatts, allowing for a 50 per cent, load factor. It should be pointed out, however, that the city’s load factor has so far never exceeded 33 per cent.—that is, the difference between the average load and the maximum load —and on this basis the new dam will provide for 16,500 kilowatts. By the raising of Lake Luella and the construction of a fourth dam at Antimony Crossing, other 8000 acre feet can be provided. and the installed capacity can be raised to 13,000 kilowatts, on a 50 per cent, load factor. This does not by any means exhaust the possibilities of the Waipori River, but the provision of further storage would present difficulties, unless Mahinerangi could be increased, and this would mean taking a greater area cut of the mining reserve, which might be opposed by the Mines Department. This, however, is the best method of further developing the Waipori River, and, if it could be obtained, might make it profitable to cut a second tunnel. It is impossible to give any reliable figures on this point with the information available, but it is certainly worth considering. ‘"ERECTION OF DAM. The foregoing details are obtained from a report of Mr Henderson, under date October 26, and he further amplifies them by a comprehensive report under date J anuary 10: — “It is advisable that the exact site of tho dam should be located at once, and advantage taken of the low river to test the foundation, and, as far as possible, prepare lor tile work being pushed 111 rapidly in the spring. Plans and specifications have to be prepared, and .submitted to tho Public Works Department for approval. “The City Council is supporting the Expansion League in its efforts to get the Government to establish a hydro-electric station for the supply of Otago, and 1 am firmly convinced that this proposal, subject to certain conditions, is in the best interests of the province and the city—in tho latter case one great advantage being that it will enable us to link up with the new station and supply the best possible stand-by. Whether the Government decides on iiaweaWanaka or the Teviot River for the first power plant, I believe the Waipori River will one day be developed to its utmost capacity, and this fact should be kept in view in tile design of all tho hydraulic and civil engineering works at the falls, so that each extension may form part of a scheme that will ultimately provide for the full development. Cr Shaeklock, who discussed tho possibilities of Waipori with one of our reporters, went on to say that if the upper portion of the Waipori Fiat can also be obtained by the city it may be possible to hold back the whole Waipori River. The water would then Le distributed as it was required for the power-house, and no Hooding would take place on to the Taieri Plain from the Waipori River. Asked if the corporation would be able, when its full system was completed, to supply electricity to run, say, the DunedinPort Chalmers passenger service. Cr Shacklock said this could easily be done, so far as providing the power was concerned. He said that tlie capital outlay by the Government required in altering the carriages, etc., would, however, be somewhat heavy. Cr Shacklock agreed that if such a work could be carried out it would be of enormous value to the city of Dunedin. At the present time tho outlay by the Government for coal to run this service only must represent a considerable sum, and most of tho money is sent out of the dominion. If the railway line could be electrified this money would be saved, and instead of the Government paying for coal brought from overseas it would return the money it receives from Dunedin to the people of Dunedin in payment for the electric power obtained. The possibilit’es of Waipori are almost illimitable, and they will be fully exploited, as the men at the head of the city’s electric power have the vision and imagination which command success.