HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1921, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

ADDRESS BY MR L. BIRKS,

INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE.

There was a large and representative gathering at the Town Hall last evening, including a fair number of ladies, when Mr L. Birks, chief Government Electrical Engineer delivered an instrdetive and interesting address on hydro-electric power.

The Mayor (Mr G. A- Perry) presided and said he had very much pleasure in introducing Mr L. Birks, the chief Government electrical engineer, who had kindly promised to give an address on electric energy. The possibilities of electricity were almost limitless. He would ask Mr Birks to address them, after Mr Seddon had said a few words. MR SEDDON’S WELCOME.

Mr T. E. Y. Seddon M.P. said for some time past he had been endeavouring to get Mr Birks to visit the West Coast to inspect their possibilities in connection with electric power.

The Hon Mr Coates had promised to send Mr Birks to the district as soon as possible and now be had come amongst them. They had made considerable enquiries as to the various sources of power in the district. In New Zealand they had not yet made that use of the power supply that had been done in other countries. In other parts of the world the people were alive to t.ie value of electric power. During his visits to United States and Canada ho had found every possible use being made of the large resources and sources of power. In New Zealand the had not taken advantage of the electric power that they had available. At Lake Coleridge they had a most successful scheme in operation, which was now being largely extended to supply the great demand for power. In other parts of New Zealand there were numerous schemes to supply power that were being rapidly put into operation, and those in operation were proving very successful. They have so many propositions on the West Coast they there was a difficulty in deciding which was the best for the district ,including Lake Brunner, the, Kumara scheme. Lake Tvanieri, loaroha and the Mikonui. He had much pleasure in welcoming Mr Birks to t.ie district and trusted much good would eventuate as a result of the visit, (applause). MR BIRK’S ADDRESS.

Mr L .Birks, who was received with applause, expressed his pleasure at being present to have a little chat on electric power. First lie would give them some of his actual experiences of electric power in Canterbury. They were certainly in the age of electric power. In other countries electric power was used to a very great extent. In Rio there was more power used than in the whole of New Zeal ad. He would take a few of the advantage of electric power. Electricity was a form of power that was coming more of use in our commercial life. Now we want the power for use more adaptable than that of horse or steam power and the most adaptable power was

that of electric energy. In America the manufacturers use five or six times more power than in England per individual. If they were going to get the workers into a more satisfactory position the must get more power into their industries. There was one large goldmining operation commencing here, dim to the possibility of utilising water power available. They could look forward to electric power opening up a revival of gold-mining on a large scale. Just now there was the sawmilling .industry. It

costs quite a lot for wages, even if they got their fuel for nothing. He quoted a case of a. logging sawmill in Coleridge, cutting firewood. It used to have a traction engine, for power, which cost £4O to £SO a month. The owner put on electric power and it never cost more than £7 to £8 per month. When they dime to log haulers the cost was all in favour of the electric power for hauling. There was no doubt that the mainstay of the district was going to be the dairying industry. So far it c-ost £4O to £BO a year for petrol for a two horse power engine to drive their milking machines. Then there was the danger of America cutting off supplies of petrol, which would mean chaos for the industry. He took it that dairying was growing rapidly in this district. Ihe main difficulty for the industry would be power. In Tai Tapu district, Canterbury, there was a great increase of output since the introduction of electric power. He had no doubt that electric power in Westland would increase the dairy output by -a thousand per cent, Tn Tai Tapu district there was not now a petrol engine. 'Phis district was not much closer settled than the Kokatahi was. In the first year of installation to IOJ consumers in Tai Tapu there was a profit of £lOl. The distribution of electric power to dairymen can tie made a very successful one. Every industry can use a great amount of electric pow-

er with great success. Directly electric power was brought in thero was no necessity to build round the engines. The factories could he set up anywhere they desired. Electric power was a god-send to the baker, butcher or cordial maker.

Coming to the domestic use of electric newer, it was in this direction that there would be a great upheaval. It was coming cheaper than the poorest kerosene lamps, getting five times the amount of light for the same price, wit i less risk and danger. For country supply they would soon find the great advantages of the uses of electric power. They found that the demand for lighting was not as large as the demand for industrial purposes. In Christchurch the charge for a light was 1/- per month, and so they could keep them on as long as they liked. It was a godsend for the country people to be able when they got up in the early morning to switch on the lights, and have all the house and all their yard and cowsheds one blaze of light. The lighting of country houses in .the winter months was one of the vital advantages of an installation, and whatever the power cost, it would he cheap. The fundamental use of power in the house was cooking. He gave some instances of the advantages that would ensue. For the oven for cooking and baking electric power was going to make all the difference in the household. There will he n great difference when they had electric, ovens to do

their cooking, and it was substantially cheaper than any other means. The next industry was one of sweeping' the floor. The proper electric sweeping apparatus picked up all the dust and deposited it in a bag, and there was no necessity to dust the room more than once a week. Of course he knew it was expensive. The sweeper would cost £lO 10s. A coal range would cost £lO, and there was the chimney and other expenses that mado it cost £SO to £IOO, while an electric oven would cost £ls to £2O. At Coleridge in the staff offices there were no chimneys, all cooking and heating being done by electricity, and costing a far less sum than ordinary houses. There were dozens of little uses to which electric powpower could *be utilised, instancing the great comfort of an electric radiator to warm the bathroom. There was the, electric iron, and the electric washing machine, and numerous other uses which made for the comfort of the home.

The Government were putting in a number of power schemes. In Southland the people there decided not to wait till their turn came on the Government list, and went in for an Electric Power Board so as to hurry up the introduction of the power to their district. Particulars were given of the. power given to bring a Power Board into operation. There was power to rate but if the scheme was inaugurated and carried out effectively there was no danger of the rate being necessary. In Canterbury district last year there were gross receipts of £lll,OOO, and after payment of expenses including £23,000 for depreciation, there was a gross profit of £11,400. He was glad to have seen that they had formed the Electric Power Board here. He was sorry to see that the progressive towns of Tvtimara, Hokitika and Boss were not included in the scheme. If they were going to use electric power as they should, to make the district, they must just hack up and get in and help to push it along to a successful issue. Lie mentioned the surprise felt in Wellington when the application to form a Board came, omitting the three Boroughs from the area. He trusted the Boroughs would come in and join the County in the progressive movement they were making to ensure the advancement of the district.

The Power Board having been formed he left the rest to them. It was for them to find the best source of power, and then to carry out the necessary installations in such a manner as would ensure a successful undertaking. Inder Mr Seddon's guidance ho had dur-

ing the last few days made an inspection of several of the prospective sources of supply in the district. AH "ere quite good for the purpose. He was still stiff from the walk to Ton rob a. It was a very fine source of power. There was

at ieast 15,000 h.p. to be obtained, and it was a fine proposition. Coining to the question of the amount of power required for a district, wo find in Canada the amount of h.p. was 1 to every 5 head of population, and in Canterbury it was 1 in 10, but they knew that there was a c-all there for an increased supply, and they could safely put it down to 1 in 5. The Westland Power Board had a population of 7292 and the total horsepower was 1500. They

wanted some more than that but if they looked for 4000 to 5000 they weie looking wleH ahead. Toaroha lias a minimum of 15000 h.p. At Kumara they could see 1000 h.p. going continually to waste which could easily be increased by water conservation to 2000 h.p. There were quite a dozen other sources of power available in the district. Lake Knnieri had always been talked of as a supply. There was available 4.000 h.p. which could be increased by other water being brought

in by another 2,000 h.p. He had only been in the district for two or three days and that was all he could say at present. There was a great deal of surveying and other information that was required to Be obtained before he could give any more detailed reply to the question of the most suitable location but. he had been greatly impressed with the great power possibilities of the district. (Applause.) QUESTIONS. In answer to an invitation hv the Mayor for any questions desired to be asked Mr Birks, Mr Seddon asked, supposing Kanierl Lake supply were utilised with 1000 h.p., could Air Birks give an approximate idea, of the cost of the installation. Air Birks stated that in the last annual report of the Public Works Department, all the costs were set out. New Plymouth installation 1000 h.p. cost a total of £114,000. The source of supply was four miles out of the town Lake Coleridge had 8000 h.p., and the actual cost which did not include all reticulation was £45 per h.p. At Dunedin with 8000 h.p., including reticulation and supply of everything, the cost was £520,000. They considered tha ; the cost of the source of power at £4O was cheap and £6O excessive and the whole thing £6O was cheap and £IOO excessive.

Air I). J. Kvans asked what power was to l>e used for the electrification of Otira Tunnel and would the Government he a purchaser of power? Air Birks replied that they proposed at present to supply power by a 'steam

plant at the tunnel mouth. Air Evans asked supposing the Toaroha scheme were developed would it be possible to transfer the power economically to work Otira tunnel. Air Birks replied—Yes. Canterbury were transmitting power 60 miles and in America they carried power up to 250 miles. Air Evans asked how much h.p. would bo required at Otira Tunnel. Air Birks replied from 1500 to 2000 h.p. Air Evans asked what would be a fair price to pay for such power. Air Birks said the charge for Lake Coleridge, large and small was about £lO per h.p. per year. Air R. Wild asked if power could he supplied economically for radiators, and instanced that he had read that coal at 27/- per ton cost Id per unit while electric power at Id per unit was equal to 58d., or would equal coal at a cost of £7B per ton. Air Birks suggested that the questioner make a visit to Sunnyside Asylum (loud laughter) not to stay there hut to just visit it for the afternoon as lie had often done, and see what they were doing there. They were Selling

power there at £9 per h.p. per year and they were utilising 40 h.p. There was a radiator at every bedside and power was used for everything, cooking, washing, general heating and lighting. He would commend anyone interested in hospital management to pay a visit of inspection there. VOTE OF THANKS. Mr Orr-Walker moved that the meeting accord a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr Birks for his most entertaining and instructive address that evening. Seconded by Mr J. A. Murdoch and carried by acclamation. Mr Birks then moved' a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, which was carried similarly, and a most enjoyable meeting came to a close at 9.30 p.m.