Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1913. POWER FROM TE REINGA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13104, 18 June 1913, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1913. POWER FROM TE REINGA.

His Worship tlie Mayor was reported 'yesterday to be investigating the matter ! of the electrical power problem and it I was stated as probable that the Council I would presently place an order for another Diesel engine, to 'supplement tho present plant, m order to meet- the growing demand for electricity. That will no .doubt bo necessary and prudent course ,to pursue; but m view of tinrapid development ol this town and suburbs and tho growing' demand for elec-i tricity it would bo well -for our City Fathers to look into the future- and consider ' how best to provide for the, extensions that must inevitably b 9 made within the next decade. It is admitted that the Diesel engines provide an ideal plsint for present requirements. , In point of economy -and efficiency they compare most favorably with any other motive power. But it was pointed out by the lata. Borough Engineer, and it is shown by engineering journals that when it comes to a largo, demand for power the steam engine still holds its own. And there is something cheaper than steam—water power, where natural conditions, are favorable for the establishment of a hydro-electrical scheme. J As the Gisborne municipal electrical service grows — and its progress during the first year of operation has been most satisfactory — it may be necessary to look for an alternative to the Diesel plants and for that reason we would suggest that the Borough Council take tinie by the forelock and pursue enquiries into the matter of utilising To Reinga

fails. Its Ek'ctriciit Engineer (.Mr Buswell) should bo requested to visit the

any other system of electrical productive scheme, and the Borough Engineer presently lo be appointed might also be asked to interest himself m the matter, it is true that many years ago the Council obtained a special report on the subject from a firm of Auckland electricians, Messrs Steuart and Fenn, but since tliat was written enormous strides have been made m hydro-electrical engineering, and schemes have been developed m all parts of the world besides whicli: the problem of power transmission from Tiniroto is mere child's play. It is now possible to transmit power at much greater voltage than was thought possfble ten or twenty years ago and the transmission losses have been reduced to a low percentage compared with what formally obtained. Therefore it may bo th ;t th-3 Te Reinga Falls project, m the light of later engineering authority, will present a much more feasible and oven more economical aspect than it did when th-3 previous report was made. The distanc_. from Gisborne as the crow flies would bo abqut thirty miles, and this should not involve a very costly transmission line, whilst 'the direct drop at th 2„ falls, leads itself admirably to the ■establishment of a, power station. The 'f.iLt is .patent to o.veryono who has inspected the falls that there is 'a tremendous amount, of ..energy there running to wast?, and its proximity to Gisborne makes it imperative that Aye should consider the possibility of utilising that power. The Waikaremoana scheme, of much greater potentiality, has iii recent years overshadowed *the io Reinga proposal, but the present Government seems reluctant to embark upon any such gigantic . enterprise for tho North Island, aud tho possibilities of electricity from Wfnika-remoana being brought, to Gisborne appear now to be very remote. If, therefore, we have within easy reach of us an immense mine of "white coal," capable of providing light for our town and district and power for our industries, would it not be good business to ascertain how* cheaply that mine can be tapped and worked-? It may be necessary m order the minimum flow of the river may be accurately ascertained that investigation extending over a number of years, and for that reascm. it is important that arrangements should be made for the collection of data from season to season until the matter is taken up m real earnest. The Council, even if it considers the project out of the bounds of practical politics foi- the time being, would be performing a real service to posterity by taking steps to have rights to the use of the falls reserved, and by carefully recording th© flow of the waters. We believe it will be found that there is ample power there to supply all the needs of Gisborne for many long years to come and that the product of turbines at Te Reinga could be conveyed to Gisborne at a cost comparing very favorably with the cost of any other system pf electrical production.