ELECTRICAL SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1918, Page 6

ELECTRICAL SCHEME.

jjjps*- - m ' ■'« v I THE NORTH ISLAND. ,

TAJUNAK.I MUST RELY ON OUTSIDE

SOURCES.

COMPREHENSIVE PROPOSALS,

By Wire.—Our Correspondent. Wellington, Last Night.

The report of the chief electrical engineer on hydro-electric development wa3 presented to the House, to-day by the Minister of Public Works, who explained that it dealt chiefly with the North Island. Lake Coleridge had been an entire success, financially and otherwise. The engineer had reported now fegarding the supply of power in the North Island. The scheme provides for development of three sources of power—Mangahao, Waikaremoana and Arapuni, with the reservation that if the construction of a dam-at Arapuni is impracticable the station will be placed at Aratiatia. The engineer recommends that the scheme should be planned on such a scale that the supply of power should be available, with the co-operation of the local authorities, for every householder in the North Island, or for any .industry requiring the supply of power, temporarily or otherwise, for the main line electrification of light railways, coal and other mineß for windings, pumping, ventilating, smelting, and for any other purpose. In order to provide for these requirements the total gub-station load of 130,000 horse-power is necessary," requiring a plant capacity at the main power stations of 160,000 horse-power, allocated as follows: 96,000 at Arapuni, 40,000 at Waikaremoana, and 24,000 at Mangahao. These sources will provide additional power, which may be developed later as required. The system of transmission proposed, radiating from twenty-nine sub-stations, will ensure supply to the whole of the North Island.

The total capital expenditure is estimated at £7,599,441, including interest during construction, working capital, and financial assistance to power users andi local authorities. It is pointed out that the whole expenditure is recoverable in from six to seven years.

In coal only the productive power is increased and economy secured, the country districts are settled and closer settlement accelerated, while at the same time the undertaking is self-supporting after a reasonable interval for development and growth. The engineer estimates that the annual charges will require an average return of £5 9s per horse-power of substation load, which return Bhould be easily secured. Mr. Parry states that the Mangahao station is almost ideally situated for the supply of the Wellington district; so, also, is Waikaremoana very favorably situated for the supply of the East Coast district. Arapuni, or alternately Aratiatia, is rather far soyjth for the most efficient supply of Auckland district, but since Mangahao is unfortunately rather small for the ultimate requirements of Wellington and Taranaki, which will later have to augment their supply from sources farther north, the Waikato stations are particularly well situated.

The search for a suitable and economical source in Taranaki district has proved fruitless. Smaller developments are possible at comparatively gTeat expense, and it has been found that Taranaki district can be more economically and better served by transmission from Arapuni and Mangahao. Mr. Parry suggests taking over the Waihi company's plant, which is working only to lialf its capacity. If the plant were taken over by the Government, and lines built into Hamilton, the balance of the available power would he absorbed there, and in mining districts along the transmission line.

Mr. Parry estimates that the works provided for in the scheme will take ten jeara to complete.