MANGAHAO.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1924, Page 1

MANGAHAO.

HISTORY OE SCHEME,

UY TELEGRArH rRESS ASSN’., COrYIUOHT. AYELLINTGON, Nov. 3. The Alangaliao function was attended by a large number of members of Ixitli Houses, representatives of [tower boards and other local bodies, Air I'\ T. M. Kissell (Chief Electrical Engineer), and a large gathering of the public. The machinery worked without a hitch. Electricity from this source is immediately available to the I lorowlieiuin Power Board, and will subsequently be supplied to all other ower Boards in the district.

The town of Shannon was gaily decorated in celebration of the occasion, and a banquet was held there after- the ceremony at Alangaliao.

In his speech at the power station, Mr Massey congratulated the -ratepayers on the practical completion of such an important work. It was another milestone on the road over which New Zealand was steadily, if not rapidly, travelling. It was the duty of the country to go on with similar works till every household was supplied with electricity. Stations at Waikarcmoaiia and Arnpuni would also be operating in future, and eventually the whole of the North Island would be reticulated. It was hoped that power from Mongolian would be turned on in Wellington at Christmas, and later other power boards would absorb somo of the supply. It was no longer considered that the proper thing was for the Guvernmen to monopolise the supply of electric power. It was now considered perfectly .satisfactory for the distribution to be undertaken by electric power boards, which be Imped, would not be slow in taking full advantage of the opportunity offering at Manga lino, lie announced the station would turn out about twenty-four thousand horse power. This might not be available immediately. but would be by the time it was required. The cost of the beadworks and generating machinery would be an additional expenditure of a million sterling on the t.rnusmis,sion of power. Of this £IOO.OOO would be charged to Hie Waikarcmoaiia scheme when it was brought into operation. The Government was prepared to generate power for Boards in the district as soon as those Boards were prepared for that power. The Mniignhao scheme was the biggest yet developed in the North Island. hut Arnpuni would, when completed. be bigger, and so would the Lake Coleridge scheme in (lie South Island. The l’ublio Works Department bad reason to be proud that it bad a staff that rould tackle such a task as Maugnhno. Tt was necessary that such schemes should be undertaken hv the Government. and power supplied, as it was by public bodies; because if if were under .the control of private enterprises. it would be found that the thickly populated areas would lie the only places where power would be available: whereas the Government sought to place it within reach <>r everyone who chose to take it. The scheme was the most difficult ever undertaken in New Zealand, and of its kind, file most difficult in Australasia. The power was derived by shortening the pulli towards the -oa of Hie Maugaliao branch of (lie Alnnawatii ISiver. by diverting it through the main riib'e of the Tariirua Range. In 1!)0(I. Mr P. S. 1 lav, nl one time Eilgineer-iii-Chicf of the Public Works Departirieni. made surveys in the locality, bid the present scheme was selected and developed by Mr V. T. M. K issel. now Chief Electrical Engineer. At Ibe end of 1915 detail surveys were rnmnienecd. and early in 1010, Sir William Eraser pushed ahead the work, alter an arduous trin to it bv way nl a survey (i :n k. The tn-lnal Mart wa ■ made in May Hie same year, and the completion of the work as one of the monuments to the memory of Sir \\ f . Eraser. After paying a tribute to the efforts of the late Mr Lawrence Kirks, of the public "Works Department. Mr Coates stated n!i the employees bad been loyal to the Government, 'and hail done good vear’s work, in recognition _ of which." the Prime Minister bad decided to grant them a slight increase in wages for the next task undertaken. The Minister concluded by asking the Power Boards to get on with their reticulation, so that the Government could at once get a return for tlm money it bad spent in developing the scheme. . At tbe banquet following. Air Massey replying to the least ill the Prime Minister, staled that some thought the country was borrowing too much money outside the country, but when works such as Maitgahao were to lie carried out. it was necessary to borrow money. The country had no difficulty, so far. in raising loans, and bad been able In obtain advances at more favourable terms than those granted any other country in the Empire. Air Coates said this was the first scheme a British Government find atteillpfed to carry out with a voltage of one hundred and ten thousand. The contract had ficeu lot to a British film, and had been soundly fulfilled. The Power Boards bad been a great help, co-operating with tiie Government in every way possible, in order to ensure the scheme being a success, lie thought that manufacturing industries would follow the supply of electricity in Hie district, and farming, the greatest industry of the country, would be greatly benefited. Electricity would not do everything, but would make life more easy.

rOWER TURNED ON. SHANNON. Nov. 3.

. Tn his speech :iL the formal opening of (.he STjiii*s:ihr»:i .levclopment selieme. ATr ATnssev referred to tho great steps that had been taken in the directum of reiiculating the whole country and referred to other enterprises on hand, the selieme for which would shortly he under wav. The AVaikato would he provided with power for Arapuni ami AVaiknremoana would he another la rue scheme that would soon he in 'Mr Coates. Minister of Puhile AVorks, staled thht in addition to the million sterling which represented the cost of construction of the head works and genera ling machinery, there wonld he required expenditure on the additional transmission line, hut of this i‘loo.ooo would lie charged to the AVaikarcluoana scheme. # * ATr Massev was presented with a golden key and Afr Coates with a silver cigarette ease in commemoration ol the occasion. . At the conclusion of the speeches the Hon Coates turned on the power at Afr Alnsscv’s direction, amid cheers.