HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14361, 12 May 1920, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

WAIKATO-WAIPA POWER DISTRICT. MR. TOOGOOD'S REPORT. UN PIIOFITABLE AIIEAS. At yesterday's meeting of the Waipa County Council the following report by Mr If. P. Toogood was read: — "Under instructions received from Mr .1. T. Johnson, I herewith report on the distribution <>f electricity from Mora Mora through that portion of (he Waipa County nid included in the To Awamulii Power District. The portion of the j county referred to is bounded on the south by the Te Awamulu Power District and is between the Waikato and S\'aipa rivers. The area is about 17 miles long and is approximately triangular, the average being about eight miles. The whole was traversed by motor, and the positions of farms likely in power for dairying purposes were roughly located in the county litho. in general the whole area can be economically reticulated, excepting the Rllkuhia swamp. This swamp will not require power for some years, and as there is practically only one open road running through it, its inclusion in the area will not al'fecl the economical working of the district, as no lines will be required across it at non-payable points. Towards Ngaruawnhia the district becomes less profitable, but Willi the township load included it will pay to reticulate. This area is so small as to be o-f no consideration when considering the highl> payable nature of oilier portions of the district. My rough estimate of the cost of reticulation is £25,000. 'The maximum demand is likely to be 200 b.p. The revenue will possibly reach £SOOO in the first three years after completion. In general this district can be served with electricity from flora Ilora at reasonable rales. With representatives of your Council and local bodies interested I attended a conference with the Hamilton Borough GounSil in order to endeavour to form a power board including, the borough and the district. As the borough determined lo stand out of any power board, your representatives arranged with the representatives of a portion of Uie Waikato County. Previous !o Ibis second conference't had rapidly traversed a considerable portion of the Waikato County. North of the Rotorua line I found'thai there were large areas in this portion which would not yield sufficient revenue to pay for reticulation until much.more settlement lakes place without charging an excessive price for the current. As it is proposed to form a power hoard including a portion of your County and a portion of the Waikato County, I must strongly advise your Council to be parlicula'riy careful aboul the Inclusion in the inner area of certain portions of the Waikato County. If these non-payable portions of the Waikato County are included, and are reticulated, the portion of the power district you are interested in will have to help to carry the burden of such nonpayable areas, and your current charges must of necessity be correspondingly higher. With The very rough information I have I cannot definitely stale the non-payable areas of the Waikato County. To do so would necessitate a closer examination, but I am inclined to think that it is not possible lo go much north of Horsham Downs with the inner area." Mr Toogood's account amounting to *J.'!9 6s, was passed for payment, councillors recognising that they were responsible for the amount, which would be refunded from the )o\ver boards concerned.