AT MANGAHO

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 166, 9 April 1921, Page 8

AT MANGAHO

PROGRESS OF WATER POWER WORKS

REPORT, BY MR. G. MITCHELL, M.P.

Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P., secretary of the Central Progress League, who returned ou Thursday from a visit to Mangahao, has furnished the following report on the preliminary hydro-elec-tric works at that place:— / “That the general public may better follow the progress of this work, let me explain that the power from Mangahno is secured by damming two small rivers, about one mile apart, and connecting them by tunnel, 7ft. in diameter, through the hill. The water is then brought by a second tunnel out of the face of the hill facing Shannon, when it then flows down pipe lines to the power-house, 900 ft. below. Number 1 dam is furthest away from Shannon, and No. 1 tunnel connects it with No. 2 .dam. No. 2. tunnel brings the water from No. 2 tdam to tho power-station at the foot of the hill near Shannon. Approximately 24,000 h.p. will be generated, 12,000 of which will supply our city, and the hu. I ,mice distributed in the district. The Mangahao works were started about two years ago. ' “Considerable progress has been made since my last visit. The long overdue machinery arrived at the works on Saturday last and is n%w in position, and all constructional machinery will 'be in running order in a month s tjme. “Tunnel.— Starting from the furthest end. The site for No. 1 dam has been cleared and tested, and is ready for the construction of the dam, 300 ft under and 80ft. high, to proceed. - A contract has been let for No. 1 tunnel, about one mile long, at .£4 10s. per foot and ss. per foot for timbering. Contractors find their own explosives. This compares more than favourably with the Orongorongo ..tunnel of practically the same ’ size though approximately -the same class of country, which was let e.t AG 14s. per foot and explosives found. The plant for the supply of compressed air for the rock drills for this tunnel is running, and 30ft has been pierced. . ' “Main Camp.-Tlie main, or centie camp is on the ground where No. - dam will be. Here most of tho living quarters, cookhouse, mess rooms, post office, Y.M.C.A., etc., are. Here Ught railways have l>een laid to each of the tunnel heads. A start has been made to drive No. 2 tunnel, and they are 400 ft. in. This is through soft rock, and has been done by hand. Rock drills will be used as soon as the new machinery is running. The site for this dam, which is about the same size as No. I is also cleared and ready. “At the Shannon end the ground is being' prepared down tho face of the hill for the pipe lines (this can be seen from the Shannon station), and the excavation is living pushed on with lor title power-house site. Htye also the constructional power plant is installed nnd .transmission line lias been laid over the centre camp. “Sawmill.—A great quantity of timber is required for accommodation, power-house, sheds, bridges., and all sorts of purposes, and the Department was much too lato in establishing a sawmill to provide this timber. A difficulty has tieen experienced: also in getting into suitable bush, but a tram fine has now been put into now bush, which is calculated to provide all the timber required. “Coal—lt will take about 60 tqns of coal per week to drive the constructional plant. About five weeks’ • supply is now at ths works. It is a vital matter that this supply be maintained, and I trust the Department has taken all possible steps to assure this. “The accommodation has vastly improved. Houses with separate cubicles have been built for single men, and small cottages' for manned men with families. Mess-room, post office, dry canteen, and, change and drying rooms are provided.’ Some tents are still in use, but huts will replace these as soon as timber is available. Arrangements have also been made for medical attention and medicine for the men at a very small cost indeed, and a doctor visits the work once a week. The Y.M.C.A. tent is in use, but a hut is being built to replace it. Pictures are shown there three nights a week, and reading matter and writing material supplied. The institution is performing a distinct social duty in the camp, and is fully appreciated by tho men. I found general content among these workmen and appreciative remarks about the cooking and serving. At the present time some 220 men are employed on the works, which is the limit of their employing capacity. Mir. Dinnie, the engineer-in-charge, expccts the tunnel to be finished in two years, and is confident that, given a fair run, the power can be turned on in December, 1923.”

MAYOR VISITS THE WORKS The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P.) paid a visit to t/he hydroelectric power works at Miangahao. yesterday, in company with representatives of Palmerston North and Wanganui. He Mid a ’ Dominion reporter that he had been very well pleased with the progress that was being made. He had found gahigs of men' at work on both the tunnels.