TURBULENT VAISIGANO

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1926, Page 14

TURBULENT VAISIGANO

POWER SCHEME FOR APIA. Arrangements have been completed for the installation of the hydro-electric power scheme at Apia, and tenders for the plant are being called in New Zealand. They will close next week. Details of the scheme were given this morning by Mr. J. G. Meidecke, civil engineer, of Apia, who returned to Auckland yesterday after a visit of inspection to Arapuni. He said that it was intended, to harness the Vaisigano otream, which flowed from the mountains in the interior of the island for a distance of about five miles to the coast. The amount of fall from the proposed headworks to the site of the power house which would be erected at Magigl was 190 ft and in the initial stages 100 k.w. would be generated. Provision was being made for considerable development later on, and the plant that was being ordered would have a generating capacity of 2200 k.w. The power would be utilised chiefly in the town of Apia, but there would also be a demand from the various native villages where it was expected that small lighting plants would be set up. The scheme would be confined to the island of Upolu, as it would be impracticable to lay a cable -cross the strait to the adjoining island of Savaii as the cost would be too great. He said that it was ths second power scheme in the South Pacific, as there was already a power scheme at Pago Pago, the headquarters in the group for the American Navy. Mr. Meidecke said that the total cost of harnessing the Vaisigano stream, and the necessary equipment would be £15,000. It was proposed to sell the power at 9d a unit for lighting, and 6d per unit for power. There would also be a reduced charge for cooking purposes. Recently a complete survey was made of Upolu Island in order to ascertain the possibilities of developing hydroelectric power, and it was found'that in addition to Lanotoo Lake, there were a number of mountain streams which could be brought in should the occasion arise. Lanotoo Lake is a sheet of water three miles in circumference —a beautiful crater lake amid a wonderful setting of tropical vegetation. For many years it has been one of the principal attractions for visitors to Apia.