HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3570, 4 September 1920, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

THE EANGITIKEI SCHEME. REPORTED ON BY EXPERTS. The following report was submitted to the Rangidkei County Council by Messrs; Templin and Toogfood, electrical engineers, of Welling-ton; — ‘‘Following on. the conference of Saturday, 21st August, it is necessary for us to state i:he conclusions arrived at after the inspection of your district.

“The prospective maximum demand of the dia;riet is about 1500 h.p. This area includes Marton, which is now served, by :gus; Taihape, Maugaweka, and Bulls, which are now served by electricity from various sources; and it includes the Kakariki Freezing Works, which is in the Kiwitea County-, ■

'“‘There is sufficient areg in the district referred to to form a useful and economical power board, but we believe it would be to the interest of .your district if it joined in with Wanganui, provided always tha. proper safeguards are taken out to see that your district is not tied to a more unprofitable district around Wanganui or elsewhere. ‘ ‘ The area to be included in the inner area of a power board requires to be very carefully considered, and before definitely committing your County, a complete proposal should be properly considered. “We advise you not to accept any boundaries until properly advised, as once a power board is formed the future electric developenvent is a matter in which the County as a local body, has no voice or control.

11 With Mr. Mair, we visited a point on the Rangitikei River near Utiku, where the river is approximately 70 feet wide, and runs between high papa banks. To harness water at this point would require a dam across the river. If floods are to pass over it, it would be unwise to erect such a dam to a greater height than 40 feet. With this height, and on the basis of 000 cubic feet of water per second as the minimum flow, 2000 h.p. is obtainable. “This development is not by any means ideal, as the powerhouse would be liable to flooding if the floods of 1907 were repeated, and the eost would be such that the current would cost more than if bought from the Government. I

“A very large scheme on the Kangdtilvei river would be more economical and safer as floods could then be diverted by a high dam across the top flat, and so kept clear of the dam and the powerhouse. Your district has no market for the power from such a scheme, and it would be unwise to contemplate developing it.

“Mr. Main has explained another scheme, which we were unable to examine in the time available. The Wengaehu, near Karioi. On the figures given by Mr. Mair. 5000 to 6000 h.p. can be developed. If this is so. and Wanganui becomes a portion of the power board area. 51 may he nvofitable to carry out this schema, as the prospective demand of vour da rict and Wane'a.nui is about 5000 h.p. “On the basis of the ruling if this electricity were bought from the Public Works Department, the

cost of a maximum demand ol buuU h.p. would be jfcoU.uou per jciu. “This annual charge would justifya scheme costing Now the machinery, both trical for 5000 h.p. would cost, erected, £IOO,OOO, and the cost of the transmission lines to a point as equally favourable as the Government substation in the district, would bo another £IOO,OOO. This would leave£loo,ooo to be spent on dams, water racej pipe lines, etc., If the scheme isto compare with the purchase of current from the Public Works Department.

“It remains to find out if £loo,ooo* will do this end of the work, and Mr.. Mair is to do more precise levelling to ascertain this.

“Our advice to the Council, there fore, is as follows:

“1. You,t own district, including Marion, Bulls, Taihape, etc., is suitable for a power board area. “2. It would he advisable to join with Wanganui, ' and perhaps other areas, if proper arangements could be made and' an economic area decided Upon. On this poin you must take technical advice.

“3. The Eangitikei river is not an .economical development compared with the ruling rates of the current from she Government. "4. Further investigations should be carried cut on the Wanet’ hu, near Karioi, as suggested by Mr. Mair and Mr. Staveley. / “5. A provisional committee, representing tbe'whole of the area likely to be formed into a power district, should be formed to undertake all in-

vestigation work. “If this corami. tee is financed by local bodies, the Boa, v d, when it is formed, has. by statute, th • power to repay to local bodies any money loaned to i he' provisional committee for

preliminary purposes.” The engineer (Ml*. Mair) explained that Mr. Stavcley and he had agreed to pay a visit of inspection to the Karioi site a' an early date.