FILLING THE DAMS AT MANGAHAO

Shannon News, 29 August 1924, Page 3

FILLING THE DAMS AT MANGAHAO

WATER TO BE TURNED IN ON MONDAY, TRIAL RUN OF GENERATORS. Speaking tQ a "News" representative, yesterday, Mr E. Dinnia. Engineer-in-Charge of Manganaio Hydro-Electric Power construction work, stated that the water for the first generation of power will be turned through the tunnels on Monday next.

On Monday morning the by-pass tunnel at Mangahao will be closed and the water permitted to back up behind the partly finished dam to such a haight jls will send it through the first tunnel into the Arapeti dam beyond. Several hours will be'necessary to raise the water in Mangahao the 25 feet necessary to send it [ through the tunnej. At the same time j the sluice opening which at present allows the waters of the Tokomaru stream to escape through the Arapeti dam, will be closed and the water will begin to back up there also, it will probably be towards evening when the first water for power will flow through the No. 2 tunnel into th e surge chamber, and pipe-line to start the turbine going in the power house As the Mangahao dam has not yet been completed it will not be possible for some months yet to get a full head of water and in the meantime the level of water in the Mangahao dam will J>e controlled by - means of the by-pass sluice-door. The pressure available will, however, be sufficient to allow of one 8000 horse power turbine being run. Probably a fortnight will be taken up in trying out the machinery for defects in installation, and in drying out the coils in the generators by means of hot air blasts. By the middle of October, however, it' is expected that the Horowhenua Power District will receive the i?ower for which it has .waited for so long, and electric lighting and * power from Mamraihao will have become an accomplished fact.