MAKURI ELECTRICAL SCHEME.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5191, 20 July 1915, Page 2

MAKURI ELECTRICAL SCHEME.

LIGHTING THE TOWNSHIP.

In response to a*n invitation, Mr A. J. Cameron, of Makuri, supplies further particulars of the.' scheme lie lias initiated to. light the township of Makuri by electricity. Mr Cameron writes: “My plant is really only a small one, but properly utilised, it would be capable of doing a large amount of work. The prime mover is just an ordinary overshot millwheel of 12 feet diameter and 6 feet breast, of a capacity of about 20 h.p. As the water-wheel only revolves some fifteen times to the minute, to the dynamo’s 1200. the latter .speed is obtained by gearing up with belts, pulleys, and counter-shaft. The dynamo is a Wolsely of 13 h.p., or in other words 10 kilowatts, with a voltage of 220 and total amperage of 45, capable of giving SOOO candle power, without overloading. As 700 o.p. will light a house of 20 rooms with all lights on at once, I have quite sufficient to light every house in Makuri for a radius of two miles. The power would also, he enough to drive all shearing machinery, firewood motors, and electric irons within that distance. Beyond that distance the loss in voltage and cost of transmission might he rather too great to make the scheme feasible. The Makuri scheme for that present is to run a line along the road past the public ball and on to the Post Office ,erecting street lamps and lig-ht-ng dwellings en route. This schpme is capable of extension in the future. Unfortunately, for those contemplating electrical installations, the priee of copper has increased some 47 per cent, on account of the war, and promises to go still higher. House fittings are also much enhanced in value. The extremely small cost of running a hydroelectric plant is one of its greatest features. The wear and tear is practically nil. although these works are kept running almost continuously. About i 1 worth of lubricating oil per year is the greatest expense, and the only attention required is about an hour a week to make .sure the tK'arings are oiled and the commutators, of the dynamo kept clean. With an en-gine-driven plant, the reverse of this i> the case. The main items of my installation beyond the power plant itself are a firewood saw bench and 5 horse power motor

to drive it. electric light- in all buildings. shearing machines, heaters and h.p. iron, and I can only speak in the highest terms of praise of all of these. Cutting range wood is a job dreaded in the country, because of its slowness and monotony. The firewood motor makes a pastime of it. The light is ready all night and early rising is no trouble ou the farm, oven tit this time of the year. The .shearing machines gave ev< ry satisfaction, and on some 1500 sheep sold after shearing must have .saved me over 040 from extra wool. Tlie electric heater cannot, to

my mind t>e compared to an open wood fire, but they are very suitable for an office, bedroom, •or bathroom, or even sick loom, as they give an even temperature and consume no air. The hot point iron quite divides this part of the household lalxrur in half from a point of time, and still further redueov toil by obviating the

unpleasant, necessity of having tin < xt.remely hot tire on ironing day. My plant- makes the third in Makuri, Mr Coom and Mr Tvlee both having installed plants some time previously to mine, anti I believe there are still

more to follow, it seems to me, however. to be a matter for regret that t rie large plant was not installed to .supply as many as could be reached, and surrounding districts will. 1 hope, profit by our mistake. One large scheme, unless s|>ec.ial difficulties are in the way, would prove immensely cheaper than a mimin'* r of small ones. A few days ago, in Wellington. I was shown some twenty returns of bouses that. used, electricity alone for both lighting and cooking, and the monthly hill ran from 14s (id in the lowest case to 30s in the highest. Just two things .seem to me to lie keeping electricity from becoming a. common thing in every well-populated district the shortage of men and motley for large works. With regard to danger front live wiles, and what constitutes a dangerous current. there seems among

experts to he a great diversity of opinion, as a current that will kill one

person may not hurt another at a 1 Salt and other chemicals on hands

wet hands, feet or earth cause the danger to lie greater. One expert that I questioned on the subject said he was once .stunned by a 100-volt current for three hours, so that it seems safe to treat all “live” wires as dangerous, and switch off when repairs or alterations have to he made. In conclusion, I trust that when the war is concluded, and price of metals reach normal again, the (iovernmenf will lose no time in putting the «t'heme in hand that- they have in view of supplying nearly the w hole ot ihe North Island front one source. This should make light railways to the hack country and better service* on ex sting linos possible, an well as Who many other benefits that cheap electrieitv would bring.