HARD TO OBTAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23314, 25 September 1945, Page 4

HARD TO OBTAIN

Hydro-Electric Plant

Pre-war Orders Not Yet Received (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. Tne disadvantages New Zealand had to contend with in hydro-electric development. during the war years were explained to delegates at the annual conference of the Electric Supply Authority Engineers’ Association to-day by the Chief Electrical Engineer, Public Works Department, Mr F. T. M. Kissell. It had been hoped, he said, to get new plant for the Karapiro hydro works, but advice had now been received that the plant could not be supplied till next year. They had originally ordered the plant in October, 1941. but now found it could not come to hand before May, 1946. The war took priority in the workshops of England, and it was now found that British workmen were

war sick and refused to work double shifts. Some piant for Arapum naa been ordered before the war and they had not yet received it. The Souln Island had iared better than the Nor tn as they had had a wet season and plenty of water. The new plant at Highbank was in operation and they had had the assistance from their good friends in Dunedin. Next year they hoped to instal another unit at Arapuni, which would help if the flow in the Waikato River remained good. They had recently ordered plant for new hydro development at Marietae, on the Waikato River, which would bp similar to Arapuni but considerably bigger. Pour 45,000 kilowatt units had been ordered for this works for delivery at the end of 1946. Road making had been started and it was hoped tc make a start on the tunnels within a month. Power should be available from this plant at the end of 1948 Within 12 months manpower should be much more readily available. Power was supplied last year as follows in the North Island—Arapuni 48 per cent, Waikaremoana 29, Horohoro 6, Mangahao 7, Evans Bay 2.6. Kind’s Wharf 1.6, miscellaneous plants 6 per cent. So far this year Arapuni had supplied 55 per cent and Waikaremoana 20 per cent. In the South Island 48 per cent of the power came from Waitaki, 20 per cent from Lake Coleridge, 16 per cent from Waipori, 6 per cent from Arnold. 3 per cent from Monowai and 5 per cent, from other small plants.