PROCEEDING APACE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1352, 1 February 1912, Page 4

PROCEEDING APACE.

LAKE COLERIDGE HYDRO-ELEC-TIiICAL SCHEME. Tenders have now boon called, or are about to bo called, for practically' tho whole of the work and material in connection with (lie harnessing of Lnko Coleridge for hydro-electrical purposes. Somi! time ago tenders were called for a (tiunel of about a mile in length running from the lake throiigh an adjoining hill. Its internal dimensions will be approximately Bft. by Bft., and it will Ire l,ored through solid rock and will bo lined internally with concrete. It is estimated that the tunnel alone will cust about JCiJiyiOO. The tenders which were received for the work of constructing Iho tunnel were considered unsatisfactory, and fresh tenders are being called. The tunnel is to have a gradient of 1 in 101)0. Connecting the tunnel, from its outer end, with the power-house, two linos of steel pipos, having each an internal bore of 4ft. -tin., wilt lie laid. These pipes yvill be half a mile long, aud will have n fall of about 500 ft. Eventually a third pipe, of the same dimensions, will connect the tunnel and the power-house. Tenders will bo invited shortly for .the two pipe-lines which arc to bo laid meantime. The Public Works Department is now about to call lenders for practically the whole of the electrical equipment required for the generation of power and its transmission to Christchurch. Somo of the plant is of an elaborate and costly character, and for purposes of tendering it will be divided into nine sections, it will include wire and other material for transmission lines as well as dynamos and other niachiuery and equipment for tho power-house. Sufficient time will he allowed for tendering to enablo local firms to communicate with tbeir agents at Home.