HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 148, 4 September 1919, Page 1

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Public Works Officials Give Outlines of Government Proposals. Following on the acquisition of the Horahora power plant by the Government the visit of Messrs Short and Birks, of the Public Works department, to this district stimulates the hope that the day is not far distant when this district may benefit through the distribution of electric current. The conference of representatives of the district with the officials of Department was not to deterfflffW"*"any -course. Firstly it was to place before the meeting the ideas of the Government on the distribution of the current and to give information ; secondly to ascertain the opinions and views of the district.

The first point of moment was how much power was availahlo from Horahora. Mr Birks said the plant consisted of 6 generators of 1,300 to 1,400 h.p. One generator had to be held in reserve. The Waihi company had to be supplied with 3500 h.p., and after allowing 10 per cent for loss in transmission 2,700 or 2,800 h.p. would be available. It had been found practicable to supply 4 h.p. of connected load with 1 h.p. of output, so probably the I 2,700 h.p. available could be multiplied by three or possibly four. It was possible to instal two more generators of 1,300 h.p. at Horahora and so the supply would be supplemented. It was stated that the generators to be installed at Arapuni would be 13,000 h.p., so that one generator there would produce more current than the whole of the Horahora plant. Speaking about the price of current it was stated in Canterbury the wholesale price charged to local bodies taking it was Id per unit. The retail price to consumers was 6d per unit for light and 3d per unit for power, with a minimum of 4s per month. The Government would not dictate as to the price the current was to be retailed at, but it would fix a limit to the price. Probably what interested the meeting most was how the lines were to run. A short line would be run to Arapuni and Putaruru. Another line would run through

Hinuera, Matamata, to Waihou and probably to To Aroha, back through Morrinsville on to Hamilton and Cambridge. A third line would supply Te Awamutu. There might possibly be branch lines to Ngaruawahiaand Huntly. Later on it was considered that it was improbable there would be sufficient power to supply Ngaruawahia or Huntly and the line would stop at Horotiu. Replying to questions it was stated that the Government had the power to tap the present line. It was proposed to use the present breaking down station at Waikino for the supply of Paeroa and district. No definite reply could be given as to whether the Government would indent materials for Power Boards. Mr Birks thought the Department had its hands quite full in looking after the installation of the various schemes. The average h.p. used on each farm would not be more than 3 h.p. A 3 h.p. milking motor cost £2l per year for current- It was not proposed at present that the Government should advance money to local bodies for the purchase of plant. Provided there was the power there was not engineering difficulty to prevent reticulation 30 miles from Horahora.