VISIT TO WAIROA

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11070, 18 February 1929, Page 6

VISIT TO WAIROA

SECOND EDITION

MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. Electric Telegraph—Press Association WAIROA, This Day. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, accompanied by Mr Eurkert, chief engineer, and a Hawke’s Ray department officer, arrived at Wairoa on Saturday evening. He received several deputations of backblocks settlers asking for road access, besides Borough Council requests for a new courthouse and assistance to works to prevent river erosion at the Mohaka bridge, maintenance, and other matters. In the afternoon he was entertained by the local bodies to a smoke concert. Yesterday he visited Lake Waikaremoana and inspected the hydroelectric woi-ks. • To-day he will inspect the inland railway route on his way to Gisborne, returning by the coast routeto Waikokopu to-morrow. The Minister had an enthusiastic reception and created a favourable impression. WAIKAREMOANA LINKED UP. GISBORNE, This Day. The current from the Waikaremoana hydro-electric station is now being used throughout a large portion of the North Island. Yesterday practically every district between Wairoa and Wellington was served while to-day it is expected that Gisborne will be connected with the new station. Ala king a statement to this effect the Alinister of Public Works, Hon. E. A. Ransom, who, in company with the engineer-in-chief, Air Furkert, made an examination of the scheme yesterday, expressed gratification that Waikaremoana had commenced to function some months ahead of the schedule, thereby considerably relieving the heavy, demand upon Alangahao and being able to overcome the serious difficulty which occurred at Gisborne through the breakdown at the local plant. Yesterday AYaikaremoana was developing 16,000 kilowatts, taking practically the whole load from Mangaliao and thus making possible a conservation of the water supply there. Although it will not be possible to relieve Mangaliao continuously Waikaremoana will be utilised from now on for reducing the peak load on the southern station, thus removing any anxiety which formerly existed. Steady progress is being made with the installation of a second generator at Waikaremoana and it is anticipated that this will be in operation within the next two or three months, thereby providing more than ample current for all immediate requiremehts.