HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160735, 23 August 1920, Page 9

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

BANGITIKEI SCHEME REPORT OP ENGINEERS. LOCAL BODIES CONFER AT MARTON A proposal to generate power from the Rangitikei River was discussed at a conference of representatives of local bodies from Rangitikei and Wanganui districts at Marton on Saturday. The conference was presided over by Mr B, P. Lethbridge, chairman of the Rangitikei County Council. Representatives were present from local bodies in the Marton, Hunterville, Bulls, and Wanganui districts. The chairman, in welcoming the delegates, said that there was one point to be considered, whether to go on their own, or to wait for power from the Government sources. If a Power Board, to include Wanganui and that part of Eaugitikei were formed, it would be, he considered, cheaper and better than waiting for the Mangahao and Waikaremoana schemes.

Advice on the formation of power boards, and upon sites in the district believed to be suitable for generation of electricity, was given by Messrs Toogood and Templin, consulting engineers, and by Mr Mair, engineer of the Rangitikei County Council. FORMATION OP POWER BOARDS. Mr Toogood said that the Power Boards Act had been made use of by many local bodies, both for the generation and for the distribution of electricity. Any locality might form itself into a board, or join another body for this purpose. A petition signed by one-fourth of the ratepayers in each of the constituent local authorities was required to form a board, and when the board was formed, representatives would be elected by the oonstitutent authorities. The Government reserved to itself the right to come into the district and to sell power. An amendment to the Act was contemplated whereby tho formatlion and workings of Power Boards would bo facilitated. Power Board areas should be fairly large; so, if a board were formed, say, from Bunuythorpe to Now Plymouth, it would be better for the Government, which sold power at the border of the district. Unless the revenue obtained per mile over a certain length of line paid operating expenses, rates would have to be levied to make up the deficiency. If lines were run out promiscuously and the revenue was not sufficient, say, in any district, the balance of tho district would have to pay rates. Caro, therefore, would have to be exercised in not having too much lean land in the district. County boundaries need not bo the boundaries of the district; a borough need not come in unless it was desired. Current was bought from the Government at the maximum demand; it was on the diverse use of current that boards could make a win. It was, therefore, sound economics to have a district to include both town and country, for tho town would have a big night load, and the country a big day load. The Mangahao scheme would supply 2800 h.p. at Bunnythorpc for distribution. There is some doubt whether Wanganui would be included. Wairarnpa has been told that they could have 2800 h.p. from tho Government scheme, although the distance to Wanganui was loss than to Wairarapa, and Wanganui would be a more payable proposition. He felt certain that if Wanganui agitated sufficiently it would get an allocation. There was no engineering difficulty in the way. POSSIBILITIES FOR POWER. In a few years time the demand fox' electricity in this district would be 6000 h.p., which, if obtained from the Government, would cost .£30,000 per annum. Any stream that could be harnessed fox' ■£300,000 to produce 6000 h.p. would pay just as well as buying that quantity from the Government. It was for the local bodies to decide whether they were going to force the Government to supply them with power, or to provide their own power. If the latter, a provisional committee should be set up, and any preliminary expenses contributed by the local bodies concerned would be x'efuudcd by the Power Board when formed. Tho Government was only going to sell power in bulk. A x’ctailing body would have to be formed; it might be a local body, or it might be a Power Board. Ultimately, be thought, a board would be formed in this district. With regard to plants already in existence in the district, the way was clear as to what was to bo done with them. There was no reason why Wanganui, which was putting in a steam plant, should not join; or it might bo that it desired to form a board of its own. If it carried out its true functions to its citizens, it would do so. Replying to questions, Mr Toogood said it was a matter of policy for the Board, but he should say that the price of power for all parts of the district should be the same. To Mr Pal boys. Mr Toogood said tho figures he quoted did not include cost of reticulation in th© centres. Answering Mr Stavcley, the expert said that the district which, would be served by the 6000 h.p. included Wanganui and part of Rangitikei. POSITION OP WANGANUI. The Mayor of Wanganui said that tho Borough was not going to acf the dog in the manger in this matter. Ho was prepared to meet the local bodies concerned and see what was tho best to be done. Although Wanganui would get a share from the Government scheme, there was a feeling in town that tho district should help itself. As soon as Messrs Mair aud Stavcley had finished their investigations of the Wangaehu proposal he hoped that the local authorities would meet again and consider what next should be done. POSSIBLE SOURCES. Mr Mair said he had made a preliminary investigation of the Rangitikei River contiguous to the railway lino. It was felt that it would not pay tho County to go in for a largo scheme unless Wanganui joined. With Wanganui included it would be possible to get a scheme either from the Wangaehu or the Rangitikei to supply power cheaper than from the Government scheme. In his opinion the Wangaehu scheme offered the better prospects. There was a favourable locality on the Rangitikei River, between Utiku and Mangawcka, where 2000 h.p. could be generated. He suggested that the Wargaehu should be further explored towards tho mountains, also the upper roaches of the Rangitikei. Prom information in bis possession he was inclined to favour a site on the Wangaehu near the Kario station, where the facilities were favourable for development work. He considered this site was well worth investigating. From the Rangitikei River power could be obtained, but it was considered it would be too expensive compared with tue Government scheme. Mr Toogood said that the site at Utiku, if more thaix a 60ft weir was built, would suffer from floods. If the

district had a large output of electricity to sob it ■would pay to make a larger dam, and dispose of flood waters else* where. THE KARIOI SITE. On the Narioi site it was possible, by the use of weirs and laces, to get a fall of about 180 ft. _ H was about 3o miles from Wanganui, in a straight hue, and about 50 by road. Between five and six thousand horse-power could bo developed. The heaviest line would i>o to Wanganui, and a lighter line could he brought through the lluanui siding .to Taihape and Marton. By the efpciiditui’e of ,£loo.< 00 in machinery £IOO,OOO in transmission lines, aud leaving £160,000 for bringing the water to the power-house, the cost of the. 6000 h.p. generated would equal the, cost of the Government charge for electricity. Mr "Kensington said that the Wangaehu -.vas, in the opinion of most engineers, the most suitable source for generation. Mr Stavcley said that the Wangaehu had not been fully explored, and its possibilities of power might be greater than already indicated. The Chairman said that it appeared that the amount of power allowed by the Government at Buimythcrpc, 2801) h.p., was not sufficient lor the requirements of the district. Mr McLean said that it, might bo better, if the district decided to manufacture power, to enlarge the area and to go in for a bigger scheme. Discussing the suggestion of the appointment of a provisional committee, the Mayor of Wanganui thought it would be better to wait until more information bad Leon secured. Mr Joblin, Mayor of Taihape, said that before his Borough committed itself it would want to know if it was going to get anything better. After further discussion it was decided to form a provisional committee. Crs. Rtoiev and Luxford referred to Wanganui’s position. The latter said that the Council was practically committed to a sedeme, TTic delegates bad practically agreed that tho Wangaehu scleine was the 'rest, and he suggested that they should join in with the Wanganui Borough in the development of its scheme. Tho Ghairmaii said that there was nothing to prevent the committee from, adopting the Wangaehu scheme. Mr Mair stated Hiat the scheme ho had referred to was different from too one Mr Crooks had reijorted upon. Tho Mayor of Wanganui suggested that the local bodies represented should bo asked to appoint delegates to tho committee. As be understood it, the Council was preparing data to enable Mr Crooks to form a definite opinion. It was finally decided to recommend to the local bodies concerned the appointment of representatives on the committee, the following being asked toappoint delegates:—Rangitikei, Wanganui, and Waitotara County Councils, Wanganui, Marton, and Taihapo Borough Councils, Gonvillc, Castlediff, Hunterville, Bulls, and Mangawcka Town Boards, Wanganui, Marton, aud Taihape Chambers of Commerce.