MANGAHAO HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER LEAGUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2200, 9 November 1920, Page 4

MANGAHAO HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER LEAGUE.

Palmerston N., October 27,

Some time has elapsed since the last report on the progress at Mangahao, and on 23rd October a visit to the works was made for the express purpose of ascertaining the position of affairs.

Labour. —We found a sufficient supply of labour was available, and the works are fully manned for the present, about . 170 men being now employed. These are well accommodated, very few being in ordinary tents, the great majority living in wooden huts or tents with wooden floors and boarded sides. Fireplaces are provided in each hut or tent. A number of permanent cottages for married men have been erected, and generally speaking the accommodation for those employed has been greatly improved, and is now quite satisfactory. Permanent quarters for the engineering staff have been erected on the terrace adjoining the power house site, and large headquarter offices have also been built at tlie same place, A township has been laid out here, with plans for proper drainage, etc. Labour, as has been said, is available in sufficient numbers to meet present needs, except- carpenters, who are needed for building operations, The men generally seem quite, satisfied, and rates of remuneration for both contract and day labour appear satisfactory.

Progress of Work. —The whole undertaking naturally divides into three .sections —the power house site at the Shannon end; work in the Tokomaru Valley; work in the Mangahao Valley. Shannon End. —The temporary power house is erected, and sites .for machinery in place. The big .Babcock boiler of 305 h.p. is now erected, and bricking-in of same will soon be complete. The engine is on the site, and partly erected. Pipes lor air compression line are on the site. Benching for the pipes from the surge chamber to the power house is in process of excavation, and a large amount of the work is done. Preparation is well advanced to enable tunnel piercing to be .-.tarted as soon as the necessary electrical generators are to hand. These have been ordered now for many months, and should be on the way from England. Poles tor the transmission line to the Tokomaru Valley are being placed on the ground. A workshop fully equipped with lathe, planing machine, etc., etc., has also been built, and the machinery is in place. Providing there is no undue delay in the arrival of generator, etc,, the work here should proceed very satisfactorily.

Tokomaru Valley.—'The dam site is cleared and ready tor starling work as soon as the necessary stone for aggregate is available tor the tunnels. Site for crusher is prepared. Tramways from tunnel headings to (‘rusher site and spoil deposit arc complete, and everything prepared for commencing tunnel works. .It is understood it is the engineer's intention to start the tunnel works by hand, so as to prevent delay while waiting for electric power for working air compressors for driving the drills.

Mangaimo Valley. dig tramways from (lie end of llie road to the valli v is now complete, 'this has a total fail of 450 foci, with a grade of approximately 1 in 2. It has already proved its usefulness hy enabling' the machinery for the small power house to he lowered to the power house site without, the dela\ which would be necessary by the construction of the road to the bottom of the valley.' All the machinery, including a boiler of seven tons weight, is on the site, and everything should be ready lor a start in piercing the tunnel before the end of the year. This tunnel, being one mile in length, is the hey to the whole construction works, and will probably decide the lime taken to complete the scheme. The sawmill is now in good working order, and has a daily output of four to five thousand feet.. This is a great convenience to the works, practically assuring the engineer.against delay in supply of this most important raw material. it may now- be said that ah tin; preliminary works necessary l.or'the carrying out ot the undertaking aie practically completed, and the actual work of construction is now in hand. The weather has been very adverse during the last few months, hut in spite ot that, steady progress has been made, and we feel sure that if the works are not completed within the time originally speeiiicd it will not be the fault of the stall'. Your Committee would like to say a, word in praise of the excellent work done by the Y.M.C.A. and their excellent secretary, Air Morion. A picture theatre and recreation hall Ims been erected in the Tokomaru Valley, and a programme is given .twice' a week. A library for the use of the men has also been started. Mr Morton really requires some means of locomotion. The camps are approximately live miles apart, and it would Vie of great help to him if some belter means were provided to enable him to move more easily from one camp to another. In providing - some means of recreation and amusement to men shut off from all the customary relaxations of civilisation the Y.M.C.A. are assisting in a very valuable manner to the quicker completion of the work, and so a record of their activities is a natural part of your committee’s report. Your Committee notes with pleasure the statement made by the Hon. J. Cf. Coates, Minister for Public Works, that power from Waikaremoaua will be available to supple-

merit Manga ha o within four years. This being so, it seems evident that the fears expressed in various districts that the power available will not be sufficient may be set aside. It is certain'*that it will take a few years to complete the demand to its peak load, even after Mangahao is available, and under the circum-stances-the wisdom of seeking to develop supplementary hydro schemes seems somewhat doubtful. For it may be taken for granted that the eventual cost of electricity to the consulher will be governed by the Government price for same as, supplied to Boards from their large hydro-electric developments, when the present financial demands of local bodies for urgent development works, now overdue because of the war, and the difficulty local bodies are meeting in finding the means to satisfy those demands are taken into consideration, and when it is further considered that probably half a million or more will he required to meet the needs of reticulation over the Mangahao district, a further urgent reason is found for emphasising the need for caution in this matter.

For the Committee: E. H. Crabb, president; W. McKenzie, secretary.