MANGAHAO WORKS.

Shannon News, 13 April 1922, Page 3

MANGAHAO WORKS.

BRITISH, FIRM’S TENDER FOR SWITCH GEAR ACCEPTED. The -contract tor the supply ol elec-’ tiical gear in c6nne'ction with the Mangahao scheme has been let by tt?e Public Works Department to the Metropolitan Vickeis Electrical Co., ol' Manchester, England, at a contract price ol' £30,764. The estimate lor the gear required was £35,000. About tm tenders were received, ranging from £24,666 to £66,247. The Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates) pointed out, that the lotvest. tender had not been accepted, as it was <•■11sidered that the successlul English firm would make a more satisfactory job. The accepted tender was the lowest that had ben received from an Imperial firm, and it was generally recognised that the contractors were one of the best firms in England. The company was better known as the British Westinghouse Company. The gear was of d very special description, as it was required to_ control an output of 24,00 horse-power at the very high electrical pressure of 110,000 ivolts. Extreme, precautions would have to be taken to render the control and operation of ' the circuits absolutely reliable, both from the < point of view of the safety of the operator and the reliability of the supply. The; Installation would be capable of a higher electrical pressure 1 than any other in use in Australasia, the Lake Coleridge supply being 66.000 volts and the Tasmanian system 88,000.