RAIN AT COLERIDGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18659, 30 August 1930, Page 8

RAIN AT COLERIDGE

FALL OF LAKE ARRESTED. HOPES OF FURTHER DOWNFALL. By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, August 29. To-day for the first time since early in March, the inflow into Lake Coleridge exceeded the outflow for generating electric power, and the Lake maintained its level. The weather this evening is favourable for more rain, and the Public Works EngL.eers are hopeful that by Monday fear of power shortage will be materially relieved. For the twenty-four hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day, 48 points of rain fell in the basin of the Harper river, making a total of 78 points for the last two days. The flow from the Harper river into the Lake increased from 170 to 620 cusecs, and other feeders added 150 cusecs.

The rain, though not heavy, marks the end of a long drought, and makes the position more hopeful. The Mayor has appealed to citizens to economise in the use of current for radiators, water-heaters, machinery and shop-lighting Unless more rain falls before the middle of September, there will be no water available from storage in the Lake. The only water available will be from the streams flowing into the Lake, sufficient to carry a load of 8000 kilowatts. The normal load is about 26,000 kilowatts.

The second intake tunnel at the Lake now covered to a depth of six feet of water. Men are working with horse scoops to keep the channel open to the first tunnel, but nowhere is the depth of the channel more than 3 feet.

A start is being made to divert the Acheron a small snowfed, streamlet, into the lake. The average flow of the Acheron is about fifty cusecs. The work will cost upwards of £15,000, and will occupy three months. The woik cannot possibly be completed in time to relieve the present situation, for if the level of the lake continues to fall at the recent rate of two and a half feet for the month, the plant will oe practically out of action in six wicks.