POWER FOR GOLD MINES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5112, 8 April 1927, Page 3

POWER FOR GOLD MINES

GOLD AND SILVER CO. QUESTION OF POINT OF SUPPLY. The question of the supply of electric power to the Ohinemuri Gold anil Silver Mines Co.’s property, situated at the head of Maratoto Valley, was hgain before the Thames Valley Power board at Tuesday’s meeting. The discussion was opened by the receipt of a letter from the company advising that the directors had ap- , proved of the board’s offer to supply power. to the mine from the HikutaiaMaratoto transmission line. As the provision of power for the company’s operations was of extreme urgency it was desired to know when the board ii—-would be able to commence the exten- '' sion of the line to the mine. Mr H. M. Corbett said that he waQ, under the impression the power would be taken from Waikino through Waitekauri. It was only natural to suppose that the mine would develop, in which case the company would require 500 horse-power. The Kerepeehi sub-station was not being put into operation for the benefit of the mining companies, but more to relieve the load in that district. He was of the opinion that the supply should foe given from Waikino, and ensure a safe supply. Mr F. E. Flatt agreed with Mr Corbett, and said he foresaw a danger of penalising the Plains consumers. The engineer (Mr N. G. McLeod) explained that with the advent of the Kerepeehi sub-station and the provision of the cable at Kopu the supply would be ample. The bond required for laying the line and supply - Ing power from Hikutaia to the mine would be E3OO0 1 . He did not think any objection should be raised as to which was to be the point of supply. A great deal depended on the bond which the company was prepared to guarantee. No difference would b e felt by consumers en route from Waikino or Kerepeehi. . The manager (Mr R. Sprague) said the Under-Secretary of Mines had considered that the board’s terms and conditions to the company were quite reasonable.- The company had been given the alternative of giving bonds for £lOOO and also £5000.. Mr C. A. Arthur reminded the meeting that matter had been ""''"referred to a special sub-committee for consideration. Certiin proposals had been brought forward and agreed to by the board. Now it appeared that an alteration had been made from the original proposals and the board had not been apprised. The whole proposition was more or less of a speculative nature, and the board should have been notified of any action or alteration from the original proposal. Mr Flatt agreed, and said he did not know that a change had been made. Mr J. Price said that the committee had not seriously considered the question of giving supply from the Hikutaia end, but had only given serious thought to Waikino as a point of supply. - The engineer explained the arrangemade in regard to bonds, but lie assured the meeting that the subcommittee’s proposal had not been .materially altered. Mr Corbett said it appeared as if the committee required the board to take the line through a non-produc-tive area. If sufficient bonds were forthcoming the company should erect its own lines without liability to the board. The chairman said that probably a mistake had been made in not again referring the matter to the sub-com-mittee, but circumstances were such that it could not be done, as he and the engineer were absent at the time. ' Mr Willy asked what would be the position if the company demanded — 500 h.p., and it could not be supplied from the Hikutaia end. The chairman said that 100h.p. through the day and 200 h.p. after peak hours could now be supplied without serious detriment to present consumers. If the power supply from Hikutaia was insufficient the company would have to take its supply from Waikino through Waitekauri. In reply to Mr J. W. McCormick the chairman said that in the event of the -mine “fizzling out” the board was safeguarded up to the amount of the bonds. Mr McCormick said that the working of the mine would entail an enormous expenditure. He hoped that the board would be adequately secured. t Mr Flatt sounded a note o£ warn’’"'■'jng about conserving supplies of power for the fanning community, and pointed out that the board was already well up to its maximum demand from Horahora. He moved tnat the whole matter be referred back to the committee. Mr Corbett seconded, and the resolution was carried.