ELECTRICITY.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 778, 24 October 1922, Page 4

ELECTRICITY.

Dealing with the Arapuni Electric Power Supply in the Public Works Statement the Minister of Public Works, Hon. J. G. Coates, says “The Arapuni scheme stands on a different footing to the others that have previously been put in hand in New Zealand in "that it cannot be developed to advantage in stages to meet the load as it grows. Owing to the large dam and heavy headworks this scheme cannot pay until the output reaches about 36,00 h.p., and the only district which could offer a sufficient demand to ensure this load being reached in the early future is Auckland City But the City Council had recently arranged to consolidate and increase its steam plant 'to 26 00 h.p and it was necessary, therefore,” to know definitely before putting the Arapuni yvorks in hand whether the city intended to. take power from Arapuni when available or to continue to operate its steam plant, i A contract was therefore negotiated providing for the supply to -the city from the Arapuni works, and this contract has been completed by the Auckland Electric Power Board which in the meanwhile was formed to take over the whole electric s upply system from the City Council This, contract anticipates that the Board will take a supply Of at least 15.000 kw. (20,000 h.p.) m 1928, when it is antj'ipated that the Arapuni works will be ready to supply the Board building un its load to this or such greater demand as may be available in the meanwhile by means of its steam plant In the meanwhile the surveys and preliminary works at Arapuni have been put in hand. . , The following reference is made concerning Horo Horn —The Hora ■Hora power plant has now'completed Jits second year of service since it was taken over from the Waihi Gold Mining Company, and the financial results are as .follows ; Capital lay £353.807 : working expenses £7986 ; interest £13,187 ; depreciation £4512 total costs £25.685. The revenue for the year was £28,207), showing a net profit of £2522 as compared with a loss for the previous year of £ 282. This result is largely due to the increased revenue received from the mines and diary factories In addition supply has been o-iveit to" Hamilton Borough and to four Electric Power Boards, viz. Thames Valley Cambridge, Central, and Te Awamutu. For this purpose the transmission lines have been extended by 67 miles. [The maximum load at power house during the year was 5800 kw. out of the plant capacity of G3ookw.. but this has since been reduced owing to a temprory reduction in the mining load. But, again, as in the case of Lake Cole, no sinking fund has been provided! and this, had it been paid', would have converted this pi’pfit into a' loss of £59. The operation of the power house and transmission lines during the year has been carried on satisfactorily. In order to provide for the normal increase in the demand,, contracts have been placed for two additional generating units of 2000 kw. each, which will bring the full power house capacity up to 10,300 kw. or 14,000 h‘.p., which it Is anticipated wili be fully loaded up before the Arapuni works are completed. The works and power house exten- , to accommodate these additiont ore now in hand