ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1918, Page 2

ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT.

A GO-AHEAD CONCERN. THE ENOESTEEE'S REPORT. Iji the course of his annual report on the electric lighting department, the engineer ('Mr. R. H. Bartiey) states:— The opening of tho year for the electrical department was marked with a, very unfortunate incident, the carryinn- away of the Mangamahoe dam, and Ike difficulties-cawed thereby have been much felt right through the year. Details of this occurrence, together with tire measures adopted to overcome the various iroitiJles have already beon reported On fully, and. it will suffice to remark that through it all a continuous supply was maintained. A new dam is being erected on the down side stream of the bid one, and is just about at tire stagß of completion- The new structure is in every way superior to the old one, i< it -can !» compa.red, and, the extra tliree feet head created by it will be a very great advantage. ■ Tho steady growth of the electric lighting department has been well maintained during tlie vea'r. . . A very noticeable feature is the great voduetion in loss in transmission, and this is entirely due to the increased transmission voltage. > The station toad factor has increased considerably, arid the <rAy load is How alnvb&t equal to tliat of tfie- eveniiig. Applications have 'been received for a farther 140 horse power, which when Connected will give an all-night load bi atproximaitely 180 to W0 k.w. A considerable amount of work has been dWn* during the year in the nature of extensions to plant and buildings. It was mMsed when the order was placed for {His plant in December, 1910, that it would be installed and working long before now, but owing to the disorganisa[tion of shipping the tuihinp. which is coming from •Sfreden l«w not yet reached rts, and no information ean be given as to when it Will arrive. The whole of the electrical "-ear ordered has arrived, And, . in face oAlie circumstances re the nondelivery of the turbine, I have (lismantled one of Hie 43 Ti.w. alternators and connected the new 250 k.w. alternators to tliis turbine, and havo thus been able to increase the station output by at least 100 horse-pewcr. The position ■at -the power house is one requiring extreme care and attention, as the plant will frequently lie called upon to handle overload's. However, the plant is in first-class order, arid I have rib reasons to. disoewnt its ability to hold out until'the new turbine arrives.

The ma.tter of increased water-power and additional plant is one that has occupied tho whole of my spare time during the year. If the'growth of this department continues at the present rate the Council will daring Hie next: IS month* "have need to consider the limiting of Ms consumers. However, lam of opinion that the demand by new consumers during this period will not be so great as previous v. 6ft aiSbirtit of tho difficulty of obtaining material and labor to carry out the work. Thin refers mainly to the lighting of residences. From a power point of view the position is almost reversed, and the scarcity of labor is in the interests of electrical power supplv. Nrt one requiring power would consider anV other than electrie.il. and in some, cases the shortage of labor and high cost of fuel is placing.the electric power in demand. I liavo not considered it advisable to make any special effort in the matter of trading in (Ins department during the year, principally on account of the high prices and difficulty of procuring stocks. When this matter is treated, I do not wish to handle it in n. half-hearted manner. We have therefore only catered for replacements and every day lines.