POSITION OF THE LAKES

Chronicle (Levin), 19 March 1947, Page 6

POSITION OF THE LAKES

AUCKLAND, Mar. 18. No recovery is yet visible in the • level of the lakes at Taupo and Wai karemoana, which have fallen oue foot and 1.7ft. respeetively in the past fortnight, and wrhich provide the main water storage for hydro-electric generation in the North Island. After a further' day without rain Waikaremoana continued its steady fall of about ttn ineh a day to reack 199.9ft. at 9 a.m. today, while Taupo was steady at 1173.55ft. Only 15 more days at a fall of- one inch a day, which has been cominon at Taupo recently, wrill be needed to reduce the lake to ine minimum level of control, where storage virtually ends. Even heavy rain may not materiallv ease the position as the country around both lakes is very dry, and will, no doubt, absorb much of the lirst fall that occurs. "We want rain at Taupo and at Waikaremoana, but rarely does it fall at both places at the sarne time," said Mr. B. S. Maunder (Wellington City Electrical Engineer) yesterday. "Mangahao is practically out of water and producing very little power.