HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1921, Page 7

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

THE PROPOSED EXTENSIONS.

In the course of their report to the New Plymouth Borough Council, suggesting provision for the construction of a fourth pipe line with a view to providing still further increases to the available water supply, the consulting engineers stated:—

We have examined the watersheds of the Waiwakaiho and its tributaries, also the Stony River, which rises in the Pouakai Ranges and is fed by various streams from Mt. Egmont, and are now in possession of evidence that points to the desirability of a detailed examination and. survey being made to investigate fully what additional power, is available, whether by storage or the diversion of some of the adjacent streams into the present catchment area. It is obvious that the storage of water is of very considerable value to a hydro-electric station. With such adjunct the flexibility of the station is increased and provision is made for dry spells which are cbmmon and affect more or less all hydro undertakings. In the basin of the Waiwakaiho and Mangahoe Rivers there are indications that storage areas can be obtained, and at such elevation that would allow of the water being drawn off into the existing dam sites. To feed storage areas on the Mangamahoe basin the Mangawarawara River can be diverted into the Mangamahoe by a tunnel of approximately 500 feet long. Additional water can also be obtained from the creeks in the Mangorei watershed. With the volume of the water of the Mangamahoe increased as mentioned above, besides being available for feeding the storage, it is possible that it can be directly used to produce power. The water would thus be used twice over as it would be impounded for further use when the lower storage is provided for by the construction of the dam. At the junction of the slopes of Mt. Egmont and the Pouakai Ranges there is a land-locked swamp with an opening at Bell’s Falls through which the Stony Rived flows. We have visited the locality on two occasions, but unfortunately wet weather interfered with our investigations. Enough was seen, however, to make it apparent that the diversion of the streams into the watershed of the Waiwakaiho was a possibility and a project worthy of further survey and investigations.