LAKE COLERIDGE SCHEME.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14977, 26 May 1914, Page 7

LAKE COLERIDGE SCHEME.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK

ARRANGEMENTS FOR TEMPORARY SUPPLY.

The Electricity Commit too reported to tho City Council last night that it was intended to make a start with some of tho small sab-stations in tho outsido districts before now, but it was deemed advisablo to delay until tho extra high tension .switchboard material came to hand, as a better idea could thon bo obtained of tho exact spaco required for installing the necessary switches, etc.

Tho Public Works Department liad erected a high tension electric line Along Malcolm avenuo. The Tost, and Telegraph Department reserved to itself tho right to tho south side of tbc street, so it would bo necessary to make arrangemonts with tho former Department for tho city wir«s to bo carried on its re- I cently-crected high tension wire poles. Thoso poles wero spaced threo chains apart, being too great a distance for ordinary town reticulation, to some extra poles would require to bo erected botweon tho Government poles unless tho Government could be induced to reduce tho spaco to two chains, tho Council's usual distance, and what tho engineer considered .should bo tho maximum for tho city's reticulation wires. The engineer had been instructed to negotiate with tho Government engineer and report.

Regarding temporary supply of current, tho engineer reported as follows: —"Tho temporary supply from the tramway power-houso is proving of considerable advantago in assisting tho Gouncil's generating plani to carry its overload and allow sttlfieient margin for tho stokers to clean their boiler furnaces in preparation for the heavy poak load. Had it not been availablo J. do not consider it would have- been postiblo to get through "this winter without cutting off a considerable* amount of power between tho hours of 4 and (3 p.m. during five days of tho week. At prsenfc 200 kilowatts aroboing supplied, as that is all that can reasonably bo expected to be carried by tho presciib cables. In a caso of emergency, howover, extra power might bo run on the saino wires for a short period, but that amount .would only help-to scrano through at a reduced pressure on tho mains in iho event of anything goin;; wrong with any ono of tho machines or boilers. As yet, although some of tlio evening loads havo been heavy, it is expected that later or. in tho season, in about one month's time, there will b«» a considerable increase, as the lighting then commences much earlier in the evening. With regard to increasing the siao of tho feeders between the two power-houses, tho tramway goneral manager informs mo ho is quite willing to do all ho can to help the Council, but does not know of having moru than about two miles at present in stock of wire that could bo worked in. The total length required is about three miles, and if tho tramway's sparo wire were installed they would then have no spare wire for repairs. 1 would not, however, recommend installing othei* feeders, if available, iii the meantime* as later on I may bo able to put on a few of tho most urgent supplies. Those lines in the outsido districts oxtending .so far from tlio powor-houso aro already being loaded up too much for satisfactory service owing to tho great demand for electrical energy Tn residential areas. Apart from , that, every extra installation connected "n the outsido are.! will mean further expense later on in replacing the meters and in alterations to tho mains to suir, the alternating current supply. All tho recent order nf aerial cable for immediate use has boon used up, and as far a« I can ascertain there is no moro in Now Zealand available, and tho first | ordor of the Australian Metal Company's contract is not expected to be delivered before tho end of July or early in August. I would, therefore, recommend not increasing tho output at I present." Tho conference of electrical engineers, representatives of the Electrical Contractors' Association and the Firo TJrH derwriters. to consider the question o£ uniform by-laws governing private electrical installations, would bo held in tho City Council Chamber on "Wednesday, tho 17th June, at 10.30 a.m. The municipal electrical engineers from Auckland, Napier. New Plymouth, Gisborne, Duntnlin, Gore, and" were exptxjttnl to be present, but tho Wellington City Council did not agree io its engineer being prpgent, as the Council considered its existing by-laws were satifclactorv.

Cr. Taylor said the committee had decided not to tako any more consumers until it was ascertained what tho peak load was during the next month. At the present time the cables w»re overlnftdcd. and it was inadvisable to load them further.

The Mayor said that some of tho plant was overdue, but tho penalties would bp insisted on.

Tiio report was adopted. Cr. Taylor added that lie hoped the committee would be r.blc by next meeting to offer « definite price to the* outside local bodies for tho supply of currout.