AN IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1928, Page 2

AN IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING.

H YD UO-E LEC'L'RIC DEV ELUP31EXT. IX XOK Til WESTLAND. Tin.' work connected with tlie liydroelectiie development in North Wc.itlaiul is proceeding apace, and nnicli earlier than is generally expected the power will he availa'de. Ihe pieparatorv work is now lar beyond the preliminary stages. the operations proceeding apace to a definite objective. What is intended to he in the complete scheme the auxiliaiy plant, is now in a fair way of installation. It is situated on the main pipe line of the Wainiea water race. Iniilt over .j(J years ago, and still in first elass preservation. The site lor the generating station is .situated some 71) eliains oil' Duffer's Track where the splendidly constructed pipe line crossed a Hat. The piipes are of cast iron, three feet in diameter. Tlio.se aefitininled with the early days will recall the time, half a century ago. when the pipes were brought here in schooner*, landed on the wharf and taken by jinkers specially constructed, drawn hv llior.se power up the old Christchurch Road, by way of Arahura Valley to the special location to syphon the water across the flat. The pipes are in excellent order, well and truly laid, and are a monument to the engineers and workers of those iar-ofl days. It must have been no meal leal to place the pipes in position, but there they are fed by a steady flow af water from the Arahura-Wainihi-uilii stream. The station now being erected is well advanced. The foundations are concrete and the walls of iron. The building will shortly he finished, ami the plant is at hand for installation. Ihe power to he developed "ill he some ;}(){) horse- power, and the used water will he turned into the Leviathan wafer race and will he usable again at the main station w hich is to I'e erected near Dilimanstown. The plant now being erected at the auxiliary st alien was secured from Tiiiiranga, but t lie plant for Ibe main station is on the water from England. Poles for the main transmission line to the Arahura Valley are now being ereclcd. Starting from the sub-sta-tion the line will follow by Duffers route to Ihe old Christchurch road, thence by Spencer mad to Malfmv s bridge, crossing same, and following down the Valley mad to the main mad. thence by .Malfmy's sawmill at the Four .Mile. The mill is to lie eventually electrified, while other sawmills in the district are also to he linked up with the electric supply. About a score of men are at present employed on the works, and the fine weather lias materially helped reticulation work now in progress, and tins section of ihe undertaking will he advanced as rapidly as passible. A splendid supply of hardwood ixiles have hei'ii received front Australia, most of which are now distributed along the power line. The wire is also to hand, so there will ho no delays for material. Much clearing and other preliminary work has been done along (lie milk's to he followed. Mr .1. S. Langford, the general inamnger of this important district venture is very sanguine about the early development ol power. Ihe Arahura Valiev will he the first district to ho served, and tlie settlers are looking forward with interest to the convenii'inr they will enjoy about their farms when the light and power is available. The project marks tin important slip for the district which should I' ncSit greatly by the added conveniences to home lile and Infilling operation-. For industrial purposes the power supply will have an immediate try-out at the saw-milling I plaid- in l,(i adapted for electrical power. Tlie initiation of this undertaking marks a new epoch in the history of Westland settlement.