ELECTRIFICATION AT OTIRA.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1923, Page 4

ELECTRIFICATION AT OTIRA.

AIR EVAN PARRY’S VISIT. ( Press correspondent). OTIRA. April 27. Air Evan Parry, engineer-in-chief of the English Electric Company, and his party wero favoured with glorious weather for the- inspection of the works at Otira. The Very good weather of the last few weeks lias been much appreciated hy the contractors, and considerable progress has been made.

AUXILIARY PLANT. The first two hours this morning were devoted to an inspection of the auxiliary plant, the power of which is derived front Goat Greek at a height of about G2G feet above the main power-house. A lead of only utility feet was required for the eoudensrs, but it was found more convenient and more economical to go 530 loot iurthei up the hill, thus generating 200 h.p. at the automatic plant controlled in the main power-house, which could mote than take the place of steam alternators for general power and lighting, including the village supply. Tins course is economical in operation and in luc-l. The pipe line up the hill was commenced about a year ago. The steel pipes were made by Stewart and Lloyd, Ltd. Glasgow. The work of constructing tin pipe lino through the bush on the steep hill must have been very arduous. As little damage as possible was done tv the bush, and the party ascending to-

day obtained beautiful views at various Btncres of the journey up the lull. '1 sunshine streamed down on the neighbouring hills, and from certain aspects there was absolutely no sign ol themarch of civilisation. From other points of vantage the Hue of I'M** could ho seen dost ending the lull to tile small reservoir, while in the background the handsome power-house made an excellent finish to the picture. Nature has indeed bestowed her hnours bountifully on the Otira district. \ccording to inclination, one conk view the beautiful native bush and listen lo the music of the bell-birds or reflect upon the power generated L’oin Hu. mountain creek which was to help in the work of sending trains through the tunnel. However strong the funnel inclination may he. it was upon the more utilitarian aspects ol Nature mat the party had eomo to gaze, and it was horse-poii<-r and heads of water ratlici than hush scenes and music ol kmls which claimed the attention. Nevert.ie-|,-ss the I — l llly of the hill slopes ot Otira will not soon fade from nit*nioi>. \sceinline the slope, the various technical features of the line were pointed out. The intake is a verysuitable one. and a considerable amount more water than that- tutually needed could be taken in. A small reservoir serves to still the water, and allows the silt to settle down before the wrier is sent down the pipes. Ibis leatitu is particularly important, in ease "I a landslide above the intake when the amiiiiul ni -ill would la- very , olisider-

OXIRA VILLAGE. There is in. process of formation at. Otira a village of forty-llirve houses for the use of the men employed on the permanent staff. The homes air much latter looking than is usual in buildings of this type. Tlu-y are not unifoim in appearance, and each house lias a fair amount of spine around. The houses arc well-equipped inside, alt Imugli the rooms are rail: rr small. Sola eol the luuisrs are n!r—dv o-cu-pied. but most of them are lint yet out of the i unlraetors’ hands. The si re-1 b'-live. n the houses is in prot css of lorii. itio;i. ami fencing has aho It: 1 e ‘fijiu-. Electric light lias licen installed in all the houses. It is pro--I,able that the school which is at pro-,-oit aljout a mile away from flu- Otira station, will be sliifed lo the site ol Hi- new village, just hy the station. The railway refreshment and dining rooms are now being romplcled. and they sVml 1 he as good as any in the Dominion. Ji,dying by present p-'.-iram v". the lay out is imilar lo that at O.imaru. and the material used appears to be of very high qualify. Tilthostel for waitresses who will be employed at the riTrosliinenl rams i-::'-o i: ally completed, and ii is a very neat beiltiing in every rc.-p.-D:. I.'.vc Jin.-s.. I’ort Chalmers, are the umlrncters for the houses, hostel, ::.i<i rcIreshment looms, and tla-v appear to be doing good work under conditions which arc pat nrallv net ideal in so isolaied a plate. The subway under the railway lints is a very substantial work, and a vast improvement on r!i.*e overhead bridge arrangement. although naturally more expensive. Tin- appearances of the lailtvay- yards at Otira will b*» i•’ *A" iine wilen all the work is couiidcted. The overhead c-lcetrival work i, especially mais (1 I)v Air Parry for its neatness and clfieiency. Visitors to Cnnleibuiy would get a far better first itn|.:vssiuii if iFey could approaeli tbe pruvim-e by wav ol tin* (Lira tunnel instead of through the dusl and grime of ilia Lyttelton tunnel. SIGNALS AND BATTERIES.

A trial wns being made this morning ol i!h- electric signal system to be used

at the Otira station. The apparatus, v.l.iih is supplied by the. Westinghouse Brake and Saxbv !signal Company, isaid tu he the very latest in‘electrical devices. A similar system is in use on the- Loudon lube railways, hut at (him the working is complicated by the single line system, since traffic has to travel in two different directions on ike same line, while on the tubes these are iftiuhl,- lines. The device installed at Otira is claimed to ho absolutely nceidenUiiruuf. lor no i tear signal can he given when there is any tralltr whatever on the section concerned. Fvcu the light trollies in the station yard have proved rather a nuisance during the testing owing to this leature of the signal system. v LOCOMOTIVE BATTERY. Your rejireseuative was also ioriunate enough to strike the initial charging of the big exide ironclad buttery, lor the battery locomotives, wki.-'i is one of the largest batteries of its kind ever turned out. It was manufactured by the Chloride Fiertricul Storage ( onipnny. of Manchester. It consists ol two' butteries, each of 210 cells, and the (Opacity at the live-hour rating is 357 ampere hours. The initial (barging which will take about a week, includes the reading of voltage, specific gravity, and temperature every lour hours. Each of the main line locomotives is equipped with a battery of sixty veils of the same make, and the capacity is 90 ampere hours: at the five hour rating. The charging of these, which commenced this morning, will take a week. MR BARRY'S VIEWS.

When, asked to give his impression of the work. Mr Parry made the following reply: The scheme is notable in that this is the first section of mainline electrification in Australasia, the Melbourne railways being suburban, and it will no doubt he the forerunner of large extensions on the mountain and tunnel sections ol the Xev Ztaland railways, including the electrification of the balance of the Midland line between Springfield and Jacksons, and the Lyttelton. Regarding the Lyttelton tunnel electrification, besides removing the smoke nuisance, which is the main justification for the work at Otira. it would be more economical in working, while it. would enable n very large increase of traffic to he carried through the tunnel, and avoid the necessity for duplication. ' RAILING OF SHEEP. While the party was at Otira, it was noticed that large flocks of -sheep were

being unloaded at tbe station for the journey over the Gorge to Christchurch, while other flocks were being brought over tho Gorge and railed at Otira. Tt was stated that 20.000 sheep had been driven over the Gorge this season, and the advantages of railway communication, facilitating the exchange of sheep are thus sufficiently obvious.