LIGHTING FOR THE TOWN

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1932, Page 11

LIGHTING FOR THE TOWN

SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY VALUE OF POWER TO HAWERA. ITS ORIGIN IN THE DISTRICT. The Hawera borough has been most fortunate in its supply of electricity, the early availability of this power playing no small part in its rapid progress. The Hawera County Electric Light Company, formed about the year 1902, harnessed the Waingongoro stream below the Normanby-Okaiawa road and

continued to supply the power for a period of 27 years, the South Taranaki Power Board taking over about three years ago. From 28 k.w. in the early days, the load at the station had grown to 873 k.w. when it was further augmented by Government power during the latter* half of last year. According to an old log-book at the station, the maximum load in the first years of activity was 3J amps, or 42 h.p. Two Victor American turbines comprised the original plant, each of these being about 100 h.p. A 65 kilowatt generator was driven by each turbine with water conveyed from the Waingongoro dam oh the northern side of the road under the bank and through the same flume or tunnel, 6ft in diameter, as is still used to take the water to the three present turbines. The original turbines at the station have all been replaced. Prolonged negotiations between the company and the- South Taranaki Electric Power Board a few years ago culminated in the ratepayers of the original district voting by a five to one majority for the acquisition of the plant by the board. This was carried out on

October 15, 1929. The great progress of the company’s revenue ever reached, was £25,610 while, after the first twelve months’ working, the board’s turnover exceeded £30,000 and has been increasing ever* since. POWER IF DESIRED. Since taking over the board has completed the reticulation of the Waimate West county, extended the reticulation wherever a profitable load, has been assured, and improved the existing reticulation. This has involved the gradual changing of the old 5500 volt system to the New Zealand standard of 11,000 volts. Ratepayers in the more thickly populated portions of the Hawera and Patea counties can now be supplied with power should they wish for it. Last year the value of electricity for power, lighting and heating rapidly found appreciation and it was recognised that the load at the Waingongoro station was

becoming too small for the needs of the area and the board completed arrangements for the supply of Government power. This obviated the necessity of using the costly Diesel engines and thereby effected a saving of £l5 a day during the dry months. It is difficult now to imagine the town of Hawera without its electric lights. Not only has electricity proved a great boon industrially, but it has meant the economical and thorough lighting of the

different streets, thereby minimising the risk of accident and proving of great value to both motorists aud pedestrians.

The first year the school was in use it was controlled by two commissioners, Alessrs. T. H. Walker and W. H. McDonald. When the committee was formed Air. Walker was the first chairman. Much has been done for the school by Afr. AlcDonald, who has been connected with it from the beginning, and Mr. G. Duncan, for many years secretary of the committee. Air. G. Dick is the present chairman and Air. H. Thrtish the secretary. At the end of May, 1929, Air. Jackson, the headmaster, left the school, and was succeeded by the present head, Air. A. E. Stone in August of that year. Freights from the Hawera Station in 1905 included the interesting and substantial item of 12,000 bags of chaff.