HORAHORA POWER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3393, 26 January 1920, Page 5

HORAHORA POWER.

DELAY IN RETICULATION. POLES NOT AVAILABLE. XVELLINGTON, Jan. 24. The probable delay In making -the power for Horahora available for some time—it has been suggested that it may be eighteen Inonfhs——was referred to-day to Sir William Fraser, Minister of Public Works. “The Horahora. power is available to-day, and I am just as anxious to -dispose ,of it as the local bodies -are to have it,” said the Minister. “The difficulty is that: we cannot get hardwood timber for the poles of the transmission and distributing lines. Our difliculty in getting these poles is accentuated by the engineers’ strike on the Australian coa-sf, which makes it impossible for us to obtain a vessel to bring timber across. -“I would point out also ‘that there never has been any offieial statement made by me that the power would not be available for 18 monfhs. lam imable to say exactly when. it will be available, but I eel'tainTy hope that it may be available in a much shorter time. The power is already being generatcl, but we intend to increase

the production by installing two new turbines, and this we shall do as Soon as we get the material and machines.” The Minister pointed out. that the distribution of the power was not such 2. simple matter as many people supposed. It sewcrl that then; were people who were staying. in etfect, that they ought to be able to get the power, seeing that the main transmission line from Horahora to Waihi passed their doors. but he pointed out that it was not possible to tap that line on wliich the current was carried at a very high voltage. and put it over distribution lines.‘ First of all the current would have to b.~ passed thi'ougll a trans ’t'ornliu;,r °.t:2tion. and “broken down” ,t'o' make it nseable by anybody. For ‘this purpose he wo~nl(l have to egtablish 3' «t"ar..<'fOl'n'ling‘ station. and build a circuit of distribution lines on the e lines he would carry the current to the borders of the ter-ri“ories under the jurisdiction of the electric power boal'(l.~',, and tllm-C d<‘li\*o!' it to the local authorities. who would distribute it to consumers. ’ , Initial steps had her-n taken alreadv‘ to establish three power boards Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Thames, but the personnel had not yet been elected. There had been a little de-’ lay in connection with the etasblishment Of .a. board for the Hamilton area, but this would not be serious. These boards would have to attend to the erection of their own distributing lines, and they would have just about as much Work to do of this kind as would the Public Works Department, ,