POWER DEVELOPMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 912, 4 March 1930, Page 7

POWER DEVELOPMENT

ELECTRICAL HISTORY IN AUCKLAND BOARD’S THREE EVENTS Thursday afternoon this week will mark an important observance in the History of the use of electricpower in Auckland and the proThe Auckland Electric-Power Board :s holding a celebration to observe three events—the advent of hydro-elec-tricity from the Arapuni scheme, the 21st anniversary'of the board’s undertaking, and the completion of the board’s new Queen Street building. The ceremony will be performed at the King’s Wharf power station by the Minister of Public AVorks, the Hon E. A. Ransom, and, to prevent disorganisation of the service by the actual switching-on of Arapuni power, it is the suggestion of the general-manager to the board, Mr. R. H. Bartley, to observe the change by discontinuing the supply from the King’s AVharf plant. Mr. AV. J. Holdsworth, who is chairman of the board, will be among the speakers, and members of public organisations have been invited to the ceremony. Members of the AVaitemata Electric - Power Board and the chairman. Mr. J. AV. Hayden, received an invitation ’to attend, at a meeting this morning. Mr. Hayden will not be able to be at the ceremony, and he will be represented by Mr. A. E. Greenslade. SWIFT PROGRESS The story of power usage in Auckland Province, up to the construction of the huge Arapuni scheme, ranking above the other hydro-electricity works of New Zealand, Mangaliao, in the Tararua Ranges, Lake Coleridge, in Canterbury, AVaipori, in Otago, and AVaikaremoana, the other North Island scheme, now being advanced, is one of swift progress. Twenty-four years ago, Mr. Goodman, the well-known Adelaide expert on civic questions, presented a report to the Auckland City Council on the prospects of an electrical supply for Auckland. In 3 907, the council decided to begin a supply, and the undertaking was officially opened on February jO, 1908. Auckland’s first station was located in Freeman’s Bay on the destructor site, and was operated in conjunction with that department. The plant in those days was primitive in comparison with the vast power units and the lofty dam of the Arapuni of 1930; it consisted of two steam generators, each of 300 horse-power, and supplied with steam from two boilers, one of which already existed for the purposes of the destructor. TWELVE CONNECTIONS AT FIRST At the date of opening, mains had been laid in a dozen of the principal streets. Of the 105 applications received, 12 were actually connected to the mains. Today, the purposes of electricity have been increased immensely, and the board has a network of mains in provincial districts. King’s Wharf station, for so long the representative of the power organisation, originated not long after power was first used. The station was proposed in 1909, although it was not opened until four years later. The Power Board itself came about with the passing of the Auckland Elec-tric-Power Board Act, 3 921-22. Mr. Holdsworth. the present chairman, has been in office since that time. The first business of the new board was to execute an agreement with the Government for a supply of electricity for the City of Auckland from the proposed Arapuni hydro-electric works.