HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3624, 28 August 1923, Page 48

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

DEVELOPMENT OF CHEAP POWER. The following remarks on the subject of hydro-electricity are contained in the annual statement of the Minister of Public Works:—The following works are provided for: (a) Completion of Mangahao to 20,000 kw. in 1924, with transmission lines to supply Wellington, Maeterton, Dtannevirke, and Marton, and with early extensions to Napier and Wanganui, (b) Construction of Arapuni headworks, together with first three generating units, amounting to 45,000 kw. in 1928, with additional units of 15,000 kw. each as required; also duplicate transmission lines to Auckland. (c) The extension of the existing power-house at Horahora, which is now in hand and will be completed early in 1924, bringing up its capacity from 6300 kw. to 10,300 kw., with transmission lines to Auckland, Te Kuiti, and Rotorua, in addition to the existing lines to Waihi, Hamilton, and Te Awamutu. (d) The extension of Lake Coleridge by addition of two units, each of 7500 kw. capacity, in 1926. Plans and specifications for the work are ready, and the work will be proceeded with as soon as a definite contract can be entered into with the Christchurch City Council to take the power. The programme for development of Lake Coleridge includes extensions of transmission line to Waimate, Oamaru, and North Canterbury, in addition to the lines to Ashburton and Timaru, which are practioally complete, (e) In addition to the above, preparations are being made for the installation of a major scheme at Waikaremoana. This will probably take the from of two units of 10,000 kw. each. In the attached programme this is scheduled for completion in 1928, but will not be undertaken until the power demand in sight assumes proportions in keeping with a station of this size. Preliminary investigations have been made of suitable sources for power for Otago, Marlborough, Nelson, and •W estland. In addition to th© Government developments, the Dunedin city is extending the Waipori Falls station, now of 6000 kw. capacity, by the addition of a 3000 kw. generator, with provision ultimately for three more such units, and arrangements have been made whereby it will give supply over the Government transmission lines. The Southland Power Board is pushing on the Monowai scheme of two units, each of 2000 kw., with provision for future extension by means of four more such units. The steam reserve plants at Auckland, Wellington, Wanganui, and Invercargill are being extended and reconstructed, and the steam reserve which will be available in the course of a few years will be as follows: Wellington City, 10,000 kw.; Auckland Power Board, 25,000 kw.; Waihi Grand Junction Company, 3000 kw.; Wanganui Borough, 1750 kw.; Christchurch Tramways, 2500 kw.; and Invercargill Borough, 2200 kw. These, with the existing power plants already in operation, will amount in 1930 to 181,500 kw. of water-power and 45,750 kw. of steam plant, compared with the present total of 29,000 kw. of waterpower and 31,000 kw. of steam and other power already in service. This development will amply meet the demands and give a margin for attracting special industries depending on a supply of cheap power. The question of large surplus power to attract special export industries by offering cheap electric power is an important one, and is receiving the fullest consideration. The dominion is at present too dependent for its export trade on agricultural produce, the prices of which are lia*ble to serious fluctuations, and as the agricultural industries of the world are restored to their pre-war output the prices of agricultural produce will inevitably fall. It is, therefore, important that every effort be made to develop an export trade in manufactured goods or chemical or metallurgical products, and in this direction cheap power can assist very largely. The provision of such power is met in the above programme by the possibility of large extensions to several of the power stations, particularly Arapuni and Waikaremoana. The continued demand for hydro-electric power indicates the necessity for the Department putting in hand surveys and investigations of available schemes considerably in advance of "the actual requirements, so as to ensure that the developments made will be in the best interests of the dominion as a whole rather than that of isolated districts. Consequently portions of this work have been carried out, and as soon as the survey parties have completed the surveys required for actual construction it is proposed to carry on with this work, particularly in the direction of hte supply to North Otago, North Canterbury, Westiand, Buller, Nelson, and Marlborough, and in the detail location and survey of one or two of the most economical sources with a view to their being made available for the development of large electro-chemi-cal or electro-metallurgical industries.