WATER SHORTAGE AT MANGAHAO.

Shannon News, 11 June 1926, Page 3

WATER SHORTAGE AT MANGAHAO.

.HEAVY LOAD AND DRY-SPELL.

Worcj has been received from Mangahao that owing to the combination of a dry spell and exceedingly heavy demand for current there is a threatened shortage of water at the hydroelectric works. The position became so serious that it was reported the Public Works Department contemplated calling on the auxiliary plants for assistance in the area served by Mangahao. : A Palmerston Times reporer having A Palmerston Times reporter having plant station was working full time, waited on Mr J. W. Muir, electrical engineer, and asked if he knew anything of the matter. ; Mr Muir, was non-committal, but When pressed said all he could say was that for the past 24 hours, he: has, been supplying “juice” back to tire Mangahao "system; and would continue to do so; until further notice. It is not known whether the Evans Bay (Wellington) plant has been called on yet for assistance. The Tact, that already Mangahao is working over capacity shows' how rapid has been, the growth of the demand for electricity throughout the Wellington province. It also shows the necessity foa\ pushing forward the Waikaremoana scheme-, as rapidly as possible. . • The winter load has probably not yet' reached its peak; which shows, that Mangahao will be hard put to it to keep up with the great demand. Of course when the third dam is completed the situation will be considerably eased, but it is quite obvious that Waikaremoana must be speeded up to meet future requirements.