HYDRO-ELECTRICITY—AN EXAMPLE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XLV, Issue 23, 9 November 1923, Page 2

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY—AN EXAMPLE.

In view of the decision of the Central Power Board to prosecute work of reticulating the district in readiness lo receive the power from Mangahao when it becomes available it is interesting to read of the experiences of hoards in other parts of the Dominion. For instance, the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was constituted in 1920. The Board, which obtains its current from the Government generating plant at Hora Horn, mi the Waikato river, reticulated an area of 2300 square miles, with a rateable value of £15,000,000. It is one of the largest electrical undertakings in the Dominion. The Board already has loans authorised to an amount of £550,000, and it is estimated that a further £250,000 will be required lo complete the reticulation of the large district. Mr F. H. Caxton, who is at present on a visit to Melbourne, recently furnished a representative of the “Age” with an interesting summary of the Board’s history and operations. Although the scheme is only now coming into active use, he said, some idea of its popularity could he gauged from the fact that last month the Board installed 100 two-horse power motors for milking plants alone; that already 890 motors are connected, of which 500 are milking machine motors oii various farms dotted throughout the district. As an indication of the financial success of the undertaking, Mr Caxton stated that this year the Board, in addition to meeting its administrative expenses, had been able to pay £30,000 for interest and sinking fund out of revenue. Apart from the great benefit and convenience which cheap light mid power meant to the municipalities, the scheme was making steady progress in the country, and gradually oil engines and lamps were being displaced from farms by the more up-to-date and efficacious medium of hydrogenerated electricity, ,