MANGAHAO.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160797, 3 November 1920, Page 3

MANGAHAO.

AN INTERESTING REPORT. MANGAHAO HYDRO ELECTRIC ;POWER LEAGUE. { PALMERSON N., Oct. 27. . Some time has elapsed since the last report - On the progress at Mangahao, on 23rd October a vist to. the works was made fbr the express purpose of ascertaining the position of affairs. J v , • LABOUR.—We found that quite a sufficient supply of labour was available, and the works are fully manned for the present, about 170 men being now employed. These are well accommodated, few being in ordinary tents, the great majority living in wooden huts or tents with wooden floors and boarded sides. Fireplaces are provided, in each but or tent. A number of permanent cottages for married men have been erected, and generally speakings the accommodation for those employed has been greatly improved, and-is now quite satisfactory. Permanent quarters tor the engineering staff have been erected on the terrace adjoining the power house site, and large headquarter offices have also been built at the same place. A township has been laid out here, with plans for proper drainage, etc. Labour, as has been’ said, is available iu sufficient numbers to meet present reeds, except carpenters, who are needed for building operations. The men g'enetraljy seem qulvbe and rates of remuneration for both ■ contract/ and - day labour appear, satisfacOF WORK.—The whole undertaking naturally divides _ into three sections—the power house site at the Shannon end; work-in the lokomaru Valley; work in the Mangahao Valley. ' SHANNON. END.—The temporary power house is erected and sites tor machinery in place. The big Babcock boiler of 365 h.p. is now erected, and bricking in of same will soon be complete. The engine is on the site and partly erected. Pipes for air compression line are on the site. Benching | for the pipes from the surge cnamber to the power house is in process or excavation, and a large amount of the work is done. Preparation is well advanced to enable tunnel piercing to be started as soon as the necessary electrical generators are to hand, inese have been ordered now for many months, and should be on.the way from England. Poles for the transmission line to the Tokomaru Valley are being placed on the ground. A workshop fully equipped with lathe, , planing machine, etc., etc., has also been built, and the machinery is in place. L’ro-* viding there is no undue delay in the arrival of the generator, etc the work here should proceed very satisfactorily. TOROMAjkiU VALLEY. Warn site is cleared and ready for starting work on as soon as the necessary stone for aggregate is available tot the tunnels.. Site for crusher is prepared. Tramways from tunnel headings to crusher site and spoil deposit are complete, and everything prepared lor commencing tunnel, works. « “ understood it is the engineer s mtention to start the tunnel works by hand so as to prevent delay while waiti g for electric power for working air comway from the end of the road to the valley is now complete. This has total fall of 450 feet, with a grade of approximately Tin 2 It has already proved its usefulness •by enabling the machinery for the small power house To be lowered to the power house site without the delay which would be necessary for the construction of tho road to the bottom of the va ley. All the machinery, including a hoder of seven tons weight is on the_ site, and everything should be ready for a staff in -mercing the tunnel before the end of lie ,"at- ,°r mile in length, is the key to the whole construction works, and will probably decide the time taken to complete , the scheme The: sawmill is now m good working order and has a daily output of four to five thousand + f . eet ' is is a great convenience to the works, practically assuring the Ififmost against delay m supp y of _ this most important raw .material. It maj nmr be said that all the preliminary works necessary for the carrying out of: the undertaking are practically completed, and the actual work of construction now in band. The weather has been very adverse during the last few months, but in spite of that, steady progress has been made, and we feel lure that if the works arc not completed within the tlme origma ly specified it will -not be the fault of the St^M.C.A.— Your committee would like' t Q say a word: ip praise of the excellent work done by the, and their excellent secretary, Mr Morton. A picture theatre andrecrcation hall has been erected in the loko maru Valley, and a programme « given twice a week. A library for the use of the men has also been started. Me Morton really requires some means of locomotion. The camps are approximately five' miles apart, and it would be of great help to him if some better means were provided to enable him to move more easily from one camp to another. In providing some means, ot recreation and amusement to men shut off from the customary relaxations otf civilisation the w Y .M .C. A. are assting in a very valuable manner to the quickei completion of the work, and so a record of their activities is a natural oart of your committee’s report. - WAIKAREMOANA.— Your committee notes with pleasure the statement made by the Hon. J. G. Coates,. Minister for Public Works, that power from Waikaremoana will.be available to supplement Mangahao witbin four years This being so, it seems evident that the fears expressed' in various districts that the power .available will not be sufficient may be get aside. It is certain that it will (take a few years to complete the demand ,to its peak load, even after Mangahao is available, and under the circumstances the wisdom of, seeking to develop supplementary hydro schemes seems somewhat doubtful. For it may .be taken for granted that the eventual cost of electricity .fo the consumer will be governed by the Government price for same as supplied to Boards from their large hydroelectric developments, when the Present, financial demands of local bodies for Urgent development works, now 1 overdue because of the war, and the difficulty local bodies are meeting in finding the, means to satisfy those demands are taken into consideration, - and when it is further considered!- that probably half a million or more will be required to meet the needs of reticulation over tho Mangahao distrlet, a ' further, urgent - reason .is -found for emphasising the need for caution \in this -matter. ■'E. H. CRABB, President. j- . -For the Committee, W. McKENZIE, Secretary.