HYDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1919, Page 2

HYDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS.

THE NEW PLYMOUTH EXTENSIONS. THE RECENT VOTE NOT NEARLY SUFFICIENT. In V." course of a report to the New Plymouth Borough Council the general manager (Mr. P. T. Bellringer) reviews the position leading up to the taking of the poll for the borrowing of £40,000 to extend the borough's hydro-electric scheme, and says that the loan was successfully raised at 51 per cent. He proceeds:^—

Twelve months have passed since the question, but to recommend the Council and I have surticient information before me to be able to state definitely that the £40,000 raised will not be anything nearly sufficient to complete the works for which the money was raised. For instance, in order to avoid very heavy claims for compensation for severance, the Council was compelled to purchase some 550 acres of land, whilst under 100 acres were actually required. The surplus land will be sold later, but in the meantime the purchase money, approximately £14,000, has to be provided, although only £2OOO had been allowed in the loan.

The intake and tunnel, for which £4677 was provided in the loan, has been let by contract for £9580. In addition to this the Council has to provide plant and sluice gates to the value of £240.0, and in connection with which there is a contingent liability for damage by floods of £791, bringing the total to £12,771, or, allowing for the value of the plant when ths work is completed, a net total of approximately £II,OOO, plus a contingent liability of £791.

The revised estimate for this work, given after the surveys have been completed and before tenders were called, was £10,174. The contract is therefore not greatly in exxcess of the revised estimate, but is over £7OOO in excess of the original estimate upon which the loan was based. Present indications are that the cost of the remainder of the civil engineering portion of the work comprised in this part of the scheme will also be greatly in excess of the original estimates.

The electrical engineer anticipates that the electrical portion of the work (with the exception of the transmission lines, which have been affected by the sharp rise in copper) can be completed at a cost very little in excess of the £lO,987 provided for in his original estimates and allowed for in the loan. Notwithstanding this, however, owing to the increase in the cost of tho civil engineering portion of the work, and the extra money paid for the land, the Council will be safe in assuming that the scheme, with certain alterations contemplated in the scheme, will cost very nearly double the amount of the loan raised for the purpose.

It is impossible to go into detailed figures until receipt of the consulting engineer's revised estimates, but from the limited information now at my disposal, I feel satisfied that the above statement will be found to be correct, and, holding these views, it is my duty to place them officially before you. Since the loan was raised pressure has been brought to induce the Council to proceed immediately with the larger scheme (8000 horse power). For many reasons the Council looked very favorably upon the proposal, but before coming to a final decision has been awaiting the receipt of the revised estimates. Whether the Council can seriously consider the larger scheme will depend very largely upon the amount of the revised estimates, and also upon the question of how soon the output of the plant can be sold. The position will be considerably eased if the Government will undertake the erection of transmission lines from Inglewood to South Taranaki as part of their scheme of electrical development for the North Island. The object of this report, however, is not to discuss this phase of the question, but to recommend the Cocncil not to conclude any further agreements with outside districts for bulk supplies until such time as it is in a position to judge wth reasonable accuracy the total cost of the work, and thereby the basis of the rates upon which the current will be supplied.

only one such contract has been concluded, viz., Inglewood, and this not for a very large supply. The Stratford Borough Council lias reopened negotiations for an agreement, and their representatives will shortly be visiting New Plymouth in regard to the matter, so diat it is essential that the estimates should be available at the earliest possible moment. EXTENDED AHEA OF SUPPLY. Matters in connection with the Council's license are progressing slowly but it is hoped finality will be reached very soon now.

The electrical engineer conferred with the Department during his recent visit to Wellington and it is anticipated that the Department's amendments to the draft license submitted by the Council will be available before Christmas.