HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1921, Page 7

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

PROGRESS OF OPERATIONS. The resident engineer (Mr. R. L. Pearless) submitted the following progress report on vyork at the hydro-electric undertaking to Monday night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council: Accommodation. —The following buildings are now almost completed, a few minor fittings remaining yet to be fixed: Depot shed, 48ft x 10ft; dining hall, 20ft x 10ft; kitchen, 12ft x 12ft; hut No. 1,48 ft x 10ft. In addition to the above, six tents are in use—3 at river and 3 at works. Three of the tents are second-hand.

Water Race No. 2, —The weather having been favorable, work here has been pushed on. I expect that a start will be made in a few days now with the No. 1 race. To date a total of 5800 cubic yards have been excavated and removed at a total cost of £6BO, or 2s fid per cubic yard. The first portion of the race was composed of difficult material to handle. This is now considerably improved, and I hope to show better results for my next report. Access Tramline.—This has now been formed to a distance of 84 chains, or to within a few chains of the boundary between the Borough Council’s property and that of Mr. Marsh. I have Mr. Marsh’s consent to proceed with the line through his property, and the line has been laid out over this section and work is proceeding. Total cost of constructing 84 chains is £409, or at a rate of £4 17s per chain. Fillings which are the most costly portions of the work (comparatively) are now practically finished, and I hope to reduce the cost per chain somewhat along sidlings. Rails are now urgently required to enable the work to be pushed ahead, the agents with whom our order for 50 tons was placed at the end of November having so far been unable to supply. lam in receipt ol communication from them and hope to receive some shortly. River.—Work here is proceeding, and will be carried on until available space is filled. To date I estimate 1200 cubic yards at crusher site. This amount should be sufficient for our winter requirements. Should floods, which may be expected soon, bring down good amounts of boulders, it may be profitable to resume the hauling, after crusher is in operation. Total cost of river work to date is *£3l2 10s, or 5s 3d per cubic yard delivered to site. General.—Labor Jias offered well, several men having to be turned away on account of accommodation. Further, until I am able to carry on with the excavation of Benstock pipe line, forebay, pfe.. my present labor is quite sufficient. Good work has been done by my various foremen. Total employees on the works number 50.