THE POWER HOUSE.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 685, 18 November 1921, Page 4

THE POWER HOUSE.

CR ARMSTRONG’S SUGGESTION.

A TENTATIVE PROPOSAL.

For some time past (the Puijkekohe Borough Electricity Department has been causing considerable inconven. ience to (the inhabitants of the Borough. as well as gresdt anxiety to the Borough officials, but the inconvenience and alarm were multiplied during the last week by a breakdown with {the water pumping engine. On Wednesday a “Times” reporter was in conversation with Cr| Geo. H. Armstrong, chairman of the Electric and Waterworks Committee. Cr Armstrong seated in connection witn ‘the waterworks that the engine used for pumping the water to both reservoirs had been in commission since the water supply scheme has been in vogue. It will be recollected that some months ago a serious breakdown .occurred to one of the engines a’fc the power* house that the town depended on for its electric supply. The smashing of a crank shaft was the cause, and we understand that to effect repairs the cost would be about £SOO . Apart from the cost, the necessary parts have to be imported from England, and upon arrival there have to be fitted on. This would' take time, and even when the repairs were effected the plant would!/then be only of a temporary nature until the new plant arrived. As a matter of fact the new plant could be installed more quickly than repairs could be effected to the broken down engine. , The pressman suggested that a temporary engine, such as a traction engine, rqigbjt be installed' to overcome the difficulty until the new en. gine arrived. Cr Armstrong replied that 'to put in an auxiliary plant would mean more inconvenience because the whole sys/tem would be disorganised for some time, until this was fitted up. On dop of this when the new plant arrived there would be more inconvenience .in dismantling (the auxiliary and installing the new engine. As far aa the traction engine suggestion was concerned, Cr Armstrong said i't would! mean considerably damaging the power 1 house, and when it was got into position it would not bo powerful enough to drive the plant. “You would want about six traction engines, and how are you to couple them all up,’’ he asked. “Well, what do you propose doing ? The people are becoming very ,nxiousj Wha£ would happen if a fire broke out and the water supply gave out ?” asked the reporter. , Cr Armstrong said (that he could assure the public the waiter supply would be satisfactory. The water pumping engine has been doing her share of the work in providing the town with elecftric energy. To keep the load up jthis engine has had to be run at top. As a result, the flywheel became loose, but repairs could not be effected at once. The electrical staff are waiting an opportunity to. repair the engine, which work would take- about four hours. A.s soon as this is done the water supply is assured.

Cr Armstrong was very optimistic regarding the water supply, but. was rather pessimistic as far as the electricity supply is concerned. Reverting to the latter, he poirted out that jthe business people of the town depended on a supply of elec, trie energy. They were paying rents based on facilities provided, and the majority were heavy losers as a result of the irregularity of the lighting system. The writer might here mention that Cr Armstrong himself is a very heavy loser as a result of inadequate light, depending on the light to conduct his business in the evenings. Continuing, he said (that at the next meeting of the Borough Council he would, as chairman of the Electrical Committee, recommend to the Council the absolute necessity of curtailing the supply of light. He will suggest that fthe light be supplied over a restricted area, including King Street, which he considered was first on the list for .reasons given above. If the Council adopted this proposal, he was positive that the whole town would receive an adequate supply of water, and the restriqted area an abundant supply of light. Cr Armstrong realises 'the seriousness of the position, and is doing all in his power to remedy •'the difficulty. The electrical engineer (Mr Wyatt) and his staff have been exceptionally busy during the last week or so effecting repairs to the plant, and only for their assiduous work |the position would have been more serious. ,

If Cr Armstrong’s suggestion is adopted by the Borough Council at its meeting on Monday night, the position will be relieved unjtil the new plant is installed nexft year. The ratepayers dependent on electric light are to be considered 1 , but under the present circumstances they may have to do without light for a while. The water supply certainly ranks more important than light, and if the majority of electric consumers will allow thetmselves to be inconvenienced for a while, until the new plant is installed, 'they wilt oe assured of an adequate supply of light and water for some years (to come.

Asked this morning if there were later developments concerning the above, Cr Armstrong said he had been in touch with the eledtrical engineer (Mr W. Wyatt) and they had gone into the whole question very fully. As a result of their deliberations he now had a much better proposal to make, and it was this ;-r “That electricity be supplied over the whole area for 3% hours .in the evenings, the balance of the [time to be devoted to pumping water.”