PROGRESS AT MANGAHAO.

Shannon News, 28 March 1924, Page 3

PROGRESS AT MANGAHAO.

MANAWATU BOARD’S - VISIT.

The Manawatu-Oroua Electric Pow<er Board Tuesday arranged an official inspection of the work in progress at Mangalrao. The guests included representatives of the Wanga-nui-Raugitikei Electric Power Board, the Palmerston Board Borougjh Council, the Feilding Borough Council, and the Oroua County Council, besides a number of private visitors. Tile party left Palmerston North at 9.30 u.m., and alter an enjoyable and instructive day, returned to town about 6 p.m.

The party included the following gentlemen :- j -Manawatu-Oroua Power Board: Messrs J. A. Nash (chairman), F. W. Arbon, M. A. Eliott, H. H, Hunt, S. R. Lancaster, J. Linklater, j. Morrison, J. S. Tingey, J. H. Vincent (members), W. A, Waters (resident electrical engineer), T. Donaldson, T. B. Merson, R. F. Bale (assistant electrical engineers), K. Eglington (secretary). Wangauui-Rangitikci Power Board: Mr H. H. Richardson (secretary). Palmerston North Borough Council: Messrs F. J. Nathan (Mayor). F. Jackson, E, V. West (councillors), 1 J. R. Hardio ("town clerk), J. W. Muir engineer), J. R. Hughes thorough engineer), A. M. Spetman (abattoirs manager). Feilding Borough Council: In addition to the Mayor (Mr J. S. Tingey), the following councillors: Messrs W. W. Andrews, J, E. Barltrop, W. E. Carthcw, A. McCorkindale, D. Pryde, and H. Stewart; and A. E. Wilson, the town clerk. v./roua County Council: Gys. W. B. Brewster, A. Campbell, T. Green, W. Grccnhow, W. McLennan. Private visitors: The • party also included Messrs Yv. A, Veitch, M.P. (Wanganui), L. H. Me Hardy (Blastings), and A. McHardy (Raurnai). Maugaore—The Power House. The nominal rating of the energj available at the huge new ferroconcrete building will be 24,000 horsepower. The construction work is well forward and the carpenters were putting the finishing touches to the building. The dimensions are, approximately, 200 ft by Goft, height 60ft, and a 2Uil. tower on top of that again. The electrical installation will now go forward without delay. The seyen 110,000-volt transformers are already under cover, and just as the inspection party arrived two, traction engines were hauling the 2 5-ton motor of one of the generators up to the powerhouse entrance.

The generating voltage of the station is 11,000, ail'd this will be transformed up to 110,000 volts for transmission purposes.

The Pelton wheels are in Wellington, and are due to arrive any day, although parts are actually on the job and arc being erected. They are five in number, three of them 6000 li.p. and the remainder 3000 li.p. This works out: att 24,000 h.p. nominal rating. If there is any delay at the powerhouse end it can only be in layingdown the pipe-line from the surge chamber to the power-house. Storage Reservoir No. 3—Arapeti Bain,

The dam at Arapcti is going - well ahead, and it is estimated to reach completion at the end of June. The storage capacity will bo in the vicinity of 300,000,000 gallons. Last week no less than 1000 cubic yards of coucrctrwere laid, , and if that rate be maintained the job should be finished with, in the three months. Storage Reservoir No. 2 —Mangaliao Dam. At this.sitle there is a scene of activity which impresses the visitor as to what a huge undertaking the work is. For months the staff toiled to pierce through solid rock a tunnel to divert the river to enable the main dam to be built. After the river was diverted, the foundations of the dam were placed in position, and thousands of yards of concrete were used in this work, together with the curtain wall which was necessary at the eastern side. Unfortunately, the gates to control the by-pass tunnel arrived nine months behind time-table, and at the present moment the river is flawing in its old course over the top of the foundation of concrete, while the staff are fixing the gate in the tunnel. In a short time, when this is completed, the Mangahao will be diverted again through tlho by-pass, and the building of the dam across the gorge will be pushed on with all possiblespeed. One of the sights'of the construction work at this point is a latticed wooden tower, over 130 feet - high, used . to elevate the concrete from the mixers, so that it can be poured, by means of chutes, to any part of the dam. Transmission Line.

The work on the transmission line has practically reached the wiringstage, A big consignment of aluminium six-strand wire with steel core, on drums, has been landed at Makerua. It was noticed that whereas aluminium has been discarded in favour of copper in Christchurch, the farmer is apparently to be put in om tihe Mangaliao lines. ‘No doubt copper has been found more suitable for the GG,OOO transformer limit at Christchurch, the Mangaliao voltage being 110,000. The Constructional Difficulties. The Manawatu-Oroua Power Board had arranged a substantial meal of several courses which was done full Justice to by the company. • Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., the chairman, welcomed the guests on behalf of the Board and expressed pleasure at the large number able to accept the invitation to be present. He particularly wished to direct attention to the difficulties which the engineer-in-charge, Mr A. Dinnip, and his staff had to contend with. When the party had gone over the works in progress it would realise what a huge undertaking was involved in supplying the needs of the various Power Boards. Such a fight with nature was indicative of exceptional enterprise on the part of those engaged on the great

work. All that was now required was good luck to crown with success a constructional task unparalleled in Dominion engineering. The Local Scheme. As far as the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board was concerned, Mr Nash said it was further forward than any other similar institution taking power from Mangaliao. 1 here had been 5,000 poles erected, and 100 miles of electric lines had been wired. The area of the Board's operations completed ready- to receive power, covered 50 squax-e miles wlii.e 1300 consumers, had already .signed contracts. He was happy to say that the Manawatu-Oroua Board was waiting to reecive power from the Palmerston North Borough Council pending completion of Mangaliao. Mr. AV. A. Veitch, M.P. ,

On rising to supplement Mr Nash’s remarks, the member for Wanganui had an enthusiastic reception. He agreed that the task undertaken by Mr Dinnie and the body of men in his charge was a herculean one, and he went on to pay a high tribute to Mr Nash, and said, although he was sadly at sea in politics (laughter), he was a useful man, and a fine fellov^ 5 to boot.

Regarding Mangahao, the works would undoubtedly be of immense value to the people of New Zealand. He knew that his hearers would- not be in complete .agreement with him when he said that the time would come when New Zealand would cease to be exclusively a farming country, that power from Mangahao would be used in manufacturing processes, and, so greatly increase the value of our primary products before export from the Dominion. Still that was his earnest conviction. For the country to prosper in proportion to increased population additional value for our products would become a necessity, and this increase would be brought about largely by use of the cheap hydro-electric power Mangahao was about to provide for us. In conclusion, Mr Veitch said he was satisfied that this magnificent scheme would complete the work of making this New Zealand of ours the finest country on God’s earth. (Applause). 3 fine Host. The dinner terminated with a vote of thanks to Mr Dinnie for his excellent arrangements and for the provision of hospitality on behalf of the Board. This was carried with acclamation and to the accompaniment of the time honoured “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” The Wanganui-Rangilikei Scheme. The Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Hoard has just made its contracts for materials. The loan proposals were taken in November last when authority was secured to raise £375,000 of which the first £50,000 has been arranged for from the Government. At present the Wanganui Borough Council has not come into line, but it is anticipated that a settlement will be arrived at between the two bodies whereby the Borough interests will-be taken over at something like £150,000.

Further loan proposals would, of course, be necessary for such a purpose.