Address By Electricians Institute Chairman On Hawke’s Bay Hydro Scheme

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 39, 20 April 1948, Page 7

Address By Electricians Institute Chairman On Hawke’s Bay Hydro Scheme

One of the interesting features of the Piripai station given by the chairman of the Whakatane branch of the Electricians’ Institute, Mr F. W. Lysaght, in his talk on hydrostations at the monthly meeting recently was the 7500 foot long pres-sure-lined tunnel 16 feet .in diameter. ' The water to this station was supplemented by the Waikaretaheke river which formed an artificial lake. The control of water level of this lake is done automatically by gates. Total station output was 40,000 K.V.A. said Mr Lysaght. Tuai or Middle station is supplied from Lake Kaitawa the level of which was raised 10ft. It was necessary to construct an earth dam at the south end of the lake, a full station of porano pumice had to be removed to achieve as nearly as possible a solid layer with a pug-core wall, no rock base being available. Total output was 62,000 K.V.A. Kaitawa is at present under construction, and the first machine will probably come into operation in the next few days. Water supply is from Lake Waikaremoana. The total output when completed willbe 38,000 K.V.A. The total output of the Waikaremoana schemes will be 1,240,000 K.V.A. Mr Lysaght in conclusion mentioned that the three stations were all controlled by the one operation at Tuai. The Electrical Journal which had been the official organ of the institute is now tq be replaced by an institute publication of 16 pages per month. Mr Drube and Mr Hoskins were thanked for their interesting report on the conference. It being also suggested that a letter of gratitude be sent to the Otago branch. The secretary, Mr Drube, informed the meeting that the lecturer for the April meeting would be Mr D. Campbell.