HATEPE POWER PROJECT

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 17, 7 May 1952, Page 1

HATEPE POWER PROJECT

As reported in dast week's edition of the Times, satisfactory progress appear^ to have Ibeen made at the head-works of the Taupo HydroElectricity project at Hatepe. There is still much to be done before current can be made available. Moreover, unexpected circumstances may cause delay. As an example, the heavy rain last week caused a sharp rise in the Hinemaiaia River, and some scouring at the buttress wall of the diversion tunnel resulted from the flooded conditions at the workings here. In operations of this kind it is risky to indulge in prophecy. Given - all favourable conditions the expectation is that current miay be switched on by the end of July. The cables . for the reticulation of the supply of electricity to Taupo are on the water, and also the high tension cables for the delivery of the current from the power-house to the distributing station. By the time the cables reach N eyzJii nwl Ll 11 iT'dVid are delivered in Taupo, the power-house and generating plant should be ready. It is to be hoped; that the fine weather which set in at the weekend will last without a serious break to snable steady progress to be made at the head-works and to overtake any leeway resulting from the recent flooding. As emphasised in the news article last week, what is needed is as little rain as possible till the dam is completed, and the river blocked for the formation of the head-water lake, and a lot of rain to fill up the lake for a starter when the stream has been effectively dammed.