KAPONGA POWER BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 August 1924, Page 9

KAPONGA POWER BOARD.

PIPE LINE RENOVATION REQUIRED. NO INTERRUPTION OF SUPPLY. Resulting upon a further break in the pipe ‘ line leading to the turbine used in the generation of electric power for Kaponga and district. a special meeting or the Town Board as l_ le 1d to enquire into the matter. Or VY. G. Cran presided. The engineer (Mr. A. E. Moss) explained that the break had occurred approximately 200 yards below the clam, and was consequent upon the application of a 41ft pressure to test tile portion previously repaired. As far as could be ascertained without . 11 ther excavation the pipe was split in places for a length of 'about 60 feet. Ln view of the fact that this part had proved unequal to the strain. i 1 appeared likely that the length higher up might also prove defective He recommended that the whole length above the break be uncovered and reinforced. This could be effected without interfering with the present power supply. It was intimated that the fractures which had occurred during the past tour months were in the portion of the hue taken "over from the Dairy Company. It had been constructed some 25 years ago, previous to reinforced concietmg being used for this purpose. No one at present associated either " the board or the company had any knowledge, of the actual" condition ot this section of the pipe, and the tact that it was without reinforcement ot any sort was not discovered until the breaks occurred. The problem therefore facing both the board and the company was to determine just w hat portion oi this old line required strengthening, and it now appeared that this section, except where buried under embankments, would have to he reinforced. This entailed a total length, including the work alreadv done, of approximately 600 feet. The engineer further advised that, by placing a stop gate in the concrete sump on the pipe line immediately below the dam, it would he possible to regulate the pressure on the nine. It would he advisable to maintain the pressure at a 35 foot head, which would enable all. present services to ho fully supplied, and would enable the repairs to be carried out with practically no interruption of supply. The board authorised Hie engineer to have the stop gate installed as early as possible, further instructing that the repairs to the broken section lie proceeded with immediately. It was also decided to " have the whole, of the length, as indicated, reinforced as soon as the necessary' finance could be arranged for.