MANGAMAHOE INSPECTED

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1930, Page 6

MANGAMAHOE INSPECTED

■ ! PROFESSOR HORNELL AT DAM

COMPLETE TOUR OF THE WORKS. PROGRESS PLEASES THE VISITOR. ’ • I A complete inspection of the Mangamahoe dam and the surrounding land embraced in the New Plymouth electricity extension scheme was carried out yesterday, at the request of the Borough Council, bv the Swedish hydro-electricity expert, Professor P. G. Hornell,, and his colleague, Mr. R. W. Werner. They were accompanied on their tour by the Mayor, Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths, the town clerk, Mr. K T. Bellringer, the borough engineer, Mr. C. Clarke, and the electrical engineer, Mr. W. H. Huggett. The party left New Plymouth at 8.30 a.m. and spent the whole day at the dam, lunching there and returning to town about 5 p.m. From the outlet of No. 1 tunnel the party followed the river to the powerhouse, inspecting phase of the work, both completed and in progress. Each section was carefully studied by Professor Hornell, who carried out his own tests with his own instruments as he moved from point to point. The official result of these investigations will not be known for somg time. Mr. Hornell has yet to submit the complete plans, copies, of which he took away with him, to scrutiny. But the expert expressed his delight with the work in progress and it is confidently expected that the result will lend the undertaking the assurance of this world-famous authority. Upon returning to the town Mr. Hornell expressed a desire to see the port and he was driven to the end of the breakwater. Plans were submitted for' his inspection in the borough chambers upon his return, and the remaining members of the Borough Council met him. Professor Hornell and Mr. Werner left for Wanganui at 8.30 last evening and are to proceed to Wellington to-day. Professor Hornell is probably the most distinguished expert in hydro-electrical engineering to visit New Zealand. His visit t(y New Plymouth was made possible through the efforts of the Hon. S. G. Smith and by the courtesy of the Government. In inviting the professor* to make an inspection the council has no intention of extending its hydro-electric headworks at present, beyond completing the dam now in an advanced stage of construction. However it .was felt that the presence in the Dominion of the professor afforded an opportunity unlikely to occur again for it to discuss with an authority of world-wide reputation the possibilities of future development of »the electrical undertaking.