NOTES FROM THE BACK BLOCKS

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 97, 3 May 1901, Page 3

NOTES FROM THE BACK BLOCKS

(By Kurni.)

“ All things come to him that waits ” is a maxim with which everyono is familiar, and truly we have had to wait a long time for fine weather, butmow that during the past week or two, the weatherj'has been more favourable, we have appreciated it to tho fullest extent.': [lt has had a beneficial effect too on the stock, The different flocks which I have seen lately, are showing a marked improvement, especially among the hoggets. The roads up country are in very good order at present. The Motu road is better than it has ever been at this time of the year. The stock track along the hank of the Waikohu will be a great boon to the Motu settlers when it is opened ; I say when it is opened, because at present, it is only available to the public as far as the Poututu station boundary. To say the least of it, the County Council has acted in a “ slip shod ” manner with regard to this track. In the first place, the track was surveyed and formed through Mr W. Hutchinson’s property, without that gontleman receiving the slightest notice from the Council. Surely, in.common courtesy, Mr Hutchinson deserved some intimation from the Council as to their intentions ? In the second place, as I have already said, it is only available up to the Poututu boundary, the track having been surveyed only to there, it evidently having been taken for granted that the public could travel backwards and forwards through the Poututu Homestead paddocks as they like. Mr Foster, the manager of Wi Pere Trust Estate, has blocked tho road at Poututu (and rightly too), not from any unneighbourly motive, but simply to compel the Council to take the road under the Public Works Act. Now that the winter is approaching, it is high time that the Council took some action in the matter, as under the existing conditions, it leaves the public with tho two worst “ crossings ” to negotiate. There appears to be an abundance of feed in the Motu and surrounding districts. I notice Mr Winter has a splendid crop of turnips on the ground he had felled last year. He invested in a very nice line of two-tooth ewes at the last sales. They ought to do well on tho new country.

I am informed that several of tho Motu settlers intend having bush down this season. Messrs Patterson and Gronfield have erected a saw-mill, worked by a turbine, on their section. I hear that everything is ready for a start. All we want now is the railway. These gentlemen deserve every encouragement in their venture. Mr Barwick has disposed of his property to his neighbor, Mr McSaveny. I believe the latter intends having the balance of the bush down this season, and as the two sections [adjoin he will have eleven hundred acres in grass next year. The Maugatu settlers have not been idle since the country was thrown open last year. I think I may safely predict that the Maugatu has a good future before it. Messrs Barron Brothers, who took up 12,000 acres, had 700 acres down last year, and I hear intend having a large area felled this year.

I hear that Improvements are to be made in several of the country hotels. Several rooms are to be added to the Te

Ivaraka hotel. The dining-room is to bo enlarged, and the popular proprietor, Mr W. Oman, intends to make sundry other alterations, which I daresay will bo duly appreciated by. the travelling public. The settlors speak in terms of the highest praise with regard to the manner in which this hotel is conducted, Mr and Mrs Oman being most attentive to the wants of the travelling public.

Continued from third page. ■ simultaneously, with the maximum load on the lighting circuits, and it will therefore be advisable to furnish sufficient power to light 2000 lamps and to drive motors aggregating 200 horse-power simultaneously. For lighting, the electricity could be charged either by meter or by contract. The former method, as a rule, finds most favor with consumers.

An average charge of eightpence per Board of Trade unit (1 kilowatt, hour) would compete very favorably with gas at its present price in Gisborne. Electricity at 8d per unit may be taken as equal to gas at Ss per 1000 cubic feet. A Board of Trade unit will light one lamp of 16-candle power for 17 hours. Assuming that only 3500 lamps were connected, and that they were alight on an average for 1A hours per day, each lamp would produce a revenue of £1 Is 4d per annum, a revenue of £3733 being therefore obtained from lighting only. It would probably be fofind most satisfactory to charge for power by contract, scale of charges being arranged in accordance with the number of hours and the time of day that the motors were required. For large power, for which the current was required continuously night and day a charge of £ls per annum per brake horse-power would compete -against the most economical steam engine. As it would be a great advantage to the Corporation when the load increased beyond the amount at present required to have some of the motors disconnected during the hours of maximum lighting, considerable reduction might bo made to those consumers who would consent to allow their motors to be disconnected for two hours per day, say, from 5 to 7 p.m., and I should therefore suggest a charge of only £l2 per annum to these. Motors required to be used during the day only might bo charged at a rate of £8 per annum. Ido not think that you would have the slighest difficulty in selling 200 horse-power at an average rate of £l2 10s per annum, thereby receiving a revenue of £2500 per annum. In addition to this, small motors could be supplied by meter at a very low rate, and also current for cooking purposes in the daytime, and I think you can safely count on a revenue of £SOO per annum from this source. Your total revenue would bo then £6733. SOURCE OF POWER. The Te Beinga Falls arc eminently suited for the generation of power. A net fall of 100 feet can be obtained by a very short race. This race woulti be formed by a cutting in sandstone, n< timber fluming or expensive head work would bo required. The race so con structed would be of a very permanent nature, and the cost of maintenance would be practically nil. The watei would bo led from the raco to the turbines in steel pipes. The turbines, of which twe would be used, would be directly couplec to the dynamos. Tho three -phase alternative systen would be the most suitable. The curren would be generated at a low pressure, am would be transformed to a very higl pressure, at which it would be trans mitted to Gisborne along small coppo wires supported on porcelain insulator: mounted on suitable posts. At Gisborne tho current would b transformed to a medium pressure, a which it would be distributed throughou tho town by insulated cables, whic] would also be supported on posts. Befor being led into the houses it would agaii be transformed to such a low pressure a would enable the wires to be handle: without fear of injury. The object of tho transmission being a high pressure is economy in the size o the conductors required and reduction o the losses in transmission. COST OF PLANT. The cost of a complete plant, includin, water-race, head works, generator houses turbine dynamos, transformers, poles lines, and necessary spares, togothe with 200 meters, would not exceei £33,000. WORKING EXPENSES. Superintendent electrician ... £4OO Three assistants at £IBO ... ... £540 Three assistants at £l5O ... ... £450 Oil, waste, and sundries ... ... £2OO Total ... ... ••• ••• £1590 In the above nothing .is allowed for repairs and maintenance; . I have kept these separate from the working expenses, as I suggest that a fund of 5 per cent per annum be set aside to cover repairs, renewals, and depreciation. My reason for doing this is that the repairs will vary considerably. In some years they will amount to very little, in others, owing to posts, for example, requiring to be renewed, they might mount up to a very considerable sum. The fund would enable an abnormal expenditure in any one year to be met without a call on the rates. The total annual working expenses, including this fund would, therefore, be as follows : Actual working expenses £1590 Repairs, renewals, depreciation fund, 5 per cent on £33,000 £1650 Total £3240 With a revenue as shown above of £6733, there would be a gross profit of £3493. Profit and Loss Account. G.ioss profit £3493 Interest 4 per cent on capital expenditure ... ... £IB2O Sinking fund 21 per cent on capital expenditure £825 £2145 Net profit ... ... ... £1348 This profit at first sight will seem small, but it it must be borne in mind that at the end of each period as the debt will be extinguished by the sinking fund the Council will be the owners of a complete plant at no cost to the ratepayers, and at the same time an inestimable boon will have been conferred on the inhabitants of Gisborne by tho supply of cheap power, and an up-to-date system of lighting. As the town increases in size the plant may need to be extended. These extensions will cost less in proportion than the original plant, and therefore the profits become proportionately greater. As during the first year or so of working it is improbable that the full number of lamps will be connected, it is necessary to consider whether any call on the rates will be necessary. The actual working expenses will be as great as if there were a full load, but 2A per cent will be ample for repairs and maintenance. It would also be possible to arrange that the sinking fund was not started until, say, two years after the initiation of the scheme.

The total expenditure during the firsl years would then be —

Actual working expenses ... £1590 Repairs and maintenance, 24- per cent, on £33,000' ... ... £325 Interest 41 per cent, on £03,000 £1320

Total £3735 It is very probable that the first year’s revenue would not be much if any less than this amount, and therefore the charge on the rates would be a very small amount, and, indeed, I feel confident that the second year’s working would show sufficient profit to wipe out any small deficit on the first year’s working. I have as yet made no mention of the power available at Te Beinga. At the time of my visit the river was practically in flood, and therefore any measurement that I could have made would have beeu valueless. The amount of water necessary to furnish the power for the present scheme is 76 cubic feet per second. Unless in the driest weather there is sufficient water to enable the present proposed plant to be doubled, I should recommend that the scheme be abandoned. Whilst so recommending you, I believe that it will be found that there will be sufficient water for this,'but as the continuity of the supply is a matter of great importance, it would be imprudent to initiate the scheme until after next summer, during which the stream should be measured several times by a competent oxpert. In speaking of Gisborne we forgot to mention that we included Haiti and North Gisborne. I have the. honor to be . Your obedient servant, \V. SIEUAET, Pro. Steuart aod Feua.