Electrical Development in New Zealand

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17413, 28 May 1928, Page 17 (Supplement)

Electrical Development in New Zealand

(By H. J. B.) Like many other developments which are destined to revolutionise the habits and lives of those who are brought in contact with them, that of electricity began in an extremely modest way. The pioneer electric-generating station in New Zealand for supply to the public was that erected by a company at Reefton in 1887, and the writer well remembers, as a boy living in that goldmining town at the time, the interest that was displayed in the construction of the water race and the erection of the little plant, and the pride and excitement of the townspeople when current was turned on. As the plant is now one of only 80 k.w., it was indeed a very modest beginning of what was to be a very important development in this young country. For the next ten years the only water power plant installed was, as far as can be gathered, a small one at Wellington for street-lighting purposes. In 1898, Stratford followed the lead of Reefton, and from that time onwards development became more rapid, with Christchurch in 1904, and Auckland in 1908, going in for steam plants in conjunction with their destructors. The Dunedin City Council can (daim the credit of developing hydro-electricity on a large' scale, as in 1907 the Waipori plant commenced to operate, and the venture proved so successful that it drew the attention of the people of New Zealand to the latent wealth that existed in the abundance of water power with which this fair country is blessed. POWER AT HORA HORA. The next development of moment was that of the Waihi Goldmining Company in generating power at Hora Hora with a plant of 6300 k.w. This was installed for the company’s own use to drive its machinery at Waikino and Waihi, but was later purchased by the Government as part of the forward movement brought about by.the success of the Waipori scheme, and that of Lake Coleridge, 4,500 k.w. which had in the meantime been developed by the Public Works Department. Both Lake Coleridge and"Hora Ilora plants soon proved inadequate to supply the increased demands for electricity and were increased, the present capacities being 27,000 k.w\, and 10,300 k.w., respectively. In order that supply should be available in the southern portion of the North Island Mangahao has since been developed with a capacity of 19,000 k.w r ., and is already overloaded. Further developments now under way are Arapuni, to. generate 45,000 k.w., as the first portion-of a larger scheme, and Lake Waikaremoana 40,000 k.w'., and the S completion of these schemes is eagerly awaited as a means of overcoming what may possibly be a serious shortage of power. FORMATION OF POWER DISTRICTS. It certainly was a wise provision on the part of the Government to make the people more direct partners in the electrical development of the country, by forming areas into power districts, and allowing the ratepayers of each district to elect a governing board which had authority to borrow for the respective undertaking, pledging, as a security for the loan, a rate struck on the rateable value of their properties. This made the success of each district scheme the direct concern of the ratepayers, and in going in wdiole-heartedly for the use of electricity they have helped to bring about success for their own concerns. Had it not been for this it is certain that, development, especially in country areas, could not have reached such a high state as exists to-day over a very large portion of the Dominion. It is only eight years since the first electric-power [boards were formed, and a serious start made to reticulate their areas but in that comparatively short time electricity has been made available to about 90 per cent, of the population of the Dominion. It is almost universally used in the cities and towns for lighting and largely for industrial and other purposes. Many thousands of farmers use electricity in their homes, and to drive their milking machines, and to pump water, whilst electric heaters provide boiling water for cleansing; thousands of housewives use current for cooking, ironing clothes, heating the home in winter and cooling it in summer, and for furnishing an ample supply of hot water for ail purposes. In the face of such remarkable progress, w'ho will be bold enough to prophesy what will happen in the next eight years. One thing is certain. The amount of capital which has been expended on the part of the Government and the supply authorities and the consumers of the supply authorities in connection with the electrical undertakings now amounts to so vast a sum that it behoves all to do everything possible to bring about success.