The Hokitika Guardian WEDNESDAY, JULY 12th., 1922. HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian WEDNESDAY, JULY 12th., 1922. HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

The latest developments in repaid to the generation of hydro-eleetrie power, point, it is stated, to the ultimate elimination of costly dam work. The large works for manufacturing nitrolin in Sweden have tunnels many miles in length driven through snowclad peaks to le«d the water from liighJ-y. y

ing lakes aud head waters of riveis iUkl steep scarred mountain sides to drive turbines operating imposing electric generators. Japan has over one million hydroelectric installations. One large work taps a lake and long non pipes bring the water down a thousand feet to the power station. Flumi„„ and piping are said to lie preferable to damning water as being less costly and less dangerous. Small installations linked up are more readily controlled more economical, aud more expeditiously constructed. In the course of conversation a North Island gentleman Who has ’taken a great interest in tho hvdro-electrio development of the Dominion and is a member of one of the largest electric-power boards >n New Zealand, strongly urged that, in view of these never methods of making wa-ter-power available for the generation „t electric current, the Government should set Up a committee of experts to consider whether by their adoption hydro- electric power could not be supplied much more cheaply and speedily than by the schemes at present approved. It would be possible, he contended bv means of tunnels, flumes and pipes instead of dams to provide the estimated horse-power of the various Xortli Island schemes —Mangahao, WaikaremocJia, Arapulii, etc.—at a much earlier date and at a much lower cost; mid in that case, inasmuch as the prices to he paid for the electricity to h’c supsupplied to the boards arc based upon a certain capital expenditure the agreements with t'>e Government ought to provide that should the capital expenditure prove to be less than that estimated, then the prices of electricity supplied to the boat'll shall he reduce i m like proportion. Or, if it was decided by the Government to spend the lull amounts now estimated for, then, since the capital cost upon which the prices to he paid bv the boards are based would provide a much larger output of electricity tlifan the hoard have agreed to take or may require, the Government should have the right to sell such smpliis energy to other purchasers, and the prices agreed to he pnij by the board should be proportionately reduced. If, for example during the progress of the work of construction at Arapuni. the Government engineers find it. practicable to produce and deliver energy at any earlier •date than is provided under the agreement with tho Auckland ElectricPower Hoard, then the Government should give due consideration to any scheme put before it bv the snide engineers which offers ft- fair prospect- of enabling such early delivery. Or if during the progress of the works at Mongolian, the engineers were to find it practicable, hv means of flumes and pipes or otherwise, to supply electric power more speedily and more cheaply than by proceeding with the dams as now planned, then Wellington city, ilnd the various power hoards concerned should have the advantage of such speedier and cheaper supply.