The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1920. POWER FOR THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 211, 1 June 1920, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1920. POWER FOR THE CITY

The decision of the City Council to proceed with the erection of a new power station at Evans Bay seems to invite further consider.v tion before it is acted upon. In view of the extent to which the present tramway and lighting stations are overtaxed, the whole question, of course, ought to be determined as speedily as possible; but as matters stand it is. not by any means as definitely established as it ought to be that the city authorities havo settled_ on the best policy. Since the opinions of its own experts are decidedly in conflict on the subject, the council is hardly in a position to give ratepayers. the clear lead they are entitled to expect. It will be remembered that two months ago the council adopted a recommendation made by the City Engineer (Mr. Morton), and endorsed by Mr. 'Gable (tramways engineer); and Mr. Lauchlan (electrical engineer), in favour of extending the existing steafn-genorating plant. Within the last few days the council has reversed this decision, and approved a report by Mr. Morton in which he recommends the erection of a new power station at Evans Bay. This decision is opposed and criticised by Mr. Lauchlan, and it seems very desirable that the somewhat uncertain position thus created should be cleared up before financial obligations are incurred. Most of the questions at stake are of a technical character, but in regard to the extent to which the council's own experts are at variance, it may suffice to point out that while Mr. Morton estimates at about £300,000 the cost of such extensions and alterations at Harris Street as would meet requirements, Mr. Lauchlan avers that such improvements as would adequately meet demands until Mangahao power is available, and give the city "a magnificent standby plant for many years to come," can bo provided at Harris Street at a cost of £186,600, with an additional £19,000 for a sub-station at Crawford Road-£205,500 in all. Mr. Morton estimates that tho new station at Evans Bay would cost £86,000 more than the extension of the present plant. According to Mr. Lauchlan "there is a difference in capital cost in favour of the Harris Street scheme of £176,500," but to this he adds that more plant is allowed for in tho Evans Bay scheme. It may be noted that in the joint, report of two months ago, to which reference has been made, it was estimated that the extension of the existing plant then contemplated would cost approximately £180,000. One very important factor is that of the time in which the proposed improvements will become effective. On thi3 point tho joint report stated:

. • . it has been unanimously decided that additional machinery, might be provided in tho present electric lighting station in a period of about eighteen months, whereas if it were decided to select another site tho probability is that such machinery would not be available for, say, two and a half to three years. The above fact finally disposes of all the points on which dift'erenco of opinion existed. It is obviously necessary for the' corporation to increase the amount of power available to consumers and for tramway purposes at the earliest possible moment. ,

Those, on tho face of it, are weighty, considerations; yet, in its latest decision, the council seems either to have disregarded them or assumed thafcthcy are overshadowed by other considerations which have yet to hi disclosed. The immediate effect, so far as the public is concerned, is to confuse tne whole question and raise serious doubts as to the wisdom of the policy the council has now adopted in this matter. It seems at least possible' that this policy will entail heavy expenditure on a steam-generating plant that iB not really required, when a smaller expenditure would do all that is necessary, and enable demands for power and light to be met adequately in half the time that will be needed to establish the new station. It is no doubt agreed that the improved .city plant will be required to work continuously only until power is made available under the Government hydro-electric scheme, and that afterwards it will serve as a standby, in- case of hydroelectric breakdown, and perhaps to take the peak-load, in times of extreme demand, until Waikarcmoana as well as Mangahao has been harnessed. So rnuch assumed, there Is evidently a great deal to bo said for a scheme which would give an improved supply eighteen months hence as against one which would not yield results for from two and and a half to three years. Three years hence the Mangahao project ought at least to be far advanced towards completion. • With slow progress its completion may take four or even five years, but it ought to bo possible to shorten this period by bringing effective pressure' to bear on the Government. A scheme ov temporary relief which may require three years for development thus seems ill-adapted to meet the city's needs. Mr. Morton has perhaps disposed of the suggestion submitted by the Progress League, and based upon a report by Messrs, ffAY and Vickerman, that the harnesßing of the Hutt River might bo preferable to an extension of steamplant in the city. But no really definite and conclusive case has been made oiit for the erection of a new station ■ at Evans Bay as against the cheaper of effecting improvements at Harris Street. The council's experts are agreed that the erection t of a new station would permit more economical working than the extension and improvement' of the existing plant But in the comparatively near future the city will depend mainly on water-power, and the steam-plant will be needed only as a standby and auxiliary. The factor of economy in working is thus less important th'at it would be in other civ. cumstances. Adding to this thV extra capital cost of the new station and the fact that its development would take twice as long_ as the improvement of the existing plant, it every way desirable that tho position should be further examined before the ratepayers are asked to sanction whatever expenditure is necessary. In the circumstances, the council would be well advised to seek th/iopinion of an independent engineering author- ' ity as to the beat and most eoonorai-

cal means of tiding over the period until hydro-electric power is available, and ultimately dovetailing Joeal arrangements into the Government scheme.