PUMPING SCHEME IN MAKERUA

Shannon News, 20 December 1929, Page 2

PUMPING SCHEME IN MAKERUA

FIFTEEN MHJHON- GALLONS TO BE LIFTED, IN TEN DAYS.

ELECTEIC POWER WANTED.

Indications of an important work about to be comuumced by the Make-

rua Drainage Board were contained in a letter from Mr F. C. Hay, civil en-

gineer, Palmersto.i North, which was before the Horowhenua Power Board on Tuesday. He stated that he. had been authorised by the. Drainage Board to make a start with the preliminary

work required in connection with' the improvement of the main drain known as the channel, which-had its out-...l into the Tokomaru. River about three-quarters or a mile south of tho. Okuku" i'io'd. The preliminary work consisted in the erection of a flood-i amp capable of discharging 100,000 gdi'ons per hour at the floodgate between io and SO chains away from Wall's woo'shed. The pump motor would ba about V2 h.p., and the pump would he called upon to lift 15 million gallons of water *oat o'l the drain in about tea days and thereafter to pump the ord'.iary low-water flow of about 50,0001 gallons per hour. .The? work would 1-ike three months or so to complete, lut'naturally the f.me and also the lord on the pump were dependent on weather conditions. The- work'was yery important to the settlers in the Make-ua, and the Board had been < granted a Government subsidy under the Kelief of Unemployment Act, and for thes3 reasons it was anxious to procjod with the work without delay. The writer asked on what conditionthe Power Board would extend a temporary power line from Wall's wbo'shed to the floodgate and connect up. with the pump motor, giving a three months' service on the lines indicated. If it was preferred that the Drainage Board supply temporary poles, this - would be done, if he were advised as to the number and size required., MiHay added . that a temporary service had just been installed by the Manuwatu Power Board to supply a similar pump for the Sluggish Biver Drinage Board, the conditions of which Ave re the erection and dismantling of the service at cost and the supply of electricity at Id per unit, except at p<sak load, when the motor was cut out: the maximum cost, however, for electricity was not to exceed £lO per month. A similar arrangement would be satisfactory in this case. The Chairman (Mr Monk) said it did not appear to .him that the Board could agree to the last clause without investigation; but perhaps it was .( basis. He moved that the application be referred to the Secretary (Mr Goldsmith) the Engineer (Mr Smith), and himself with the object of endeavouring to make an arrangement with MiHay. The Chairman added that Mr Smith had informed him that the service line to Mr Wall's woolshed was, not heavy enough to carry the. current for a 12, h.p. motor. The„. Engineer stated that it would be necessary to run a service for tin whole distance using the existing poles; the wire would be hung underneath that already in position. The Chairman's motion was seconded by Mr Barber and carried. Mr Seifert stated that the Drainage Board wanted to srtart almost immediately and have the plant installed dur- ' ing the dry weather.