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Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1929, Page 4

VVaiiTuurmoaxa hydro-electric '-power station, second omy to A»apuni 111 importaine as a umt of the North Ismael's electricity supply system, was opened last \vec% by urn Governor-Gen-eral. The ceremony marked the completion ol one singe in the development of one ot the greatest power sources ill . e Dominion. Its present capacity is 40,003 horse-power, but it is estimated that it tail develop 140,030 horse-pow-er. It has cost £1,U00,..0J to date, Arapuni has. cost £2,v)00,000 and Ala 11galiao £2,500,000.. Wai'karemoana. is •linked with the Mangahao system by a transmission .line running between the power-house at Tuai and Bunnythorpe,close to- Palmerston North. Within two years it will be linked with the Arapuni system also,' and thw three major power stations will jhen.be one system. So. much public attention has been given to developments at Arapuni that tlie completion of a similar venture at VV'aikaremoana has gone almost unnoticed. Current began to he supplied from Waikaremoana early in the year, and the strain . on the Mangahao station was thereby relieved, but national interest will be focussed on the scheme now. There is more than one •point of special interest in this enterprise. Due of the most beautiful and romantic lakes in New Zealand has been‘ tapped foi* power, and it is gratifying to read that the scenery has not been spoilt by the invasion of industrialism. Another is that it is a relatively cheap scheme. It is stated that electricity is now- being generated at Waikaremoana at £4 less per horsepower than at Arapuni, and at • less than half the Mangahao cost. Indeed, ~j.angahao,' with its cost 'so much in excess of the estimate, appears to be a drag on the national scheme. The amount.of money-now sunk in electrical generation and distribution is enormous. At the end of last financial year the Government had spent more than eight millions in water-power development, and the Power Boards had invested twelve millions. The .State has a good deal of work yet to do in tlie North Island, and it is starting another great scheme in the South The country will he thoroughly well electrified, hut the cost of this piece of progress may greatly exceed expectations.