HYDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1921, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRIC WORKS.

NO. 2 TUNNEL SCHEME. QUESTION OF ENLARGEMENT. K DECISION AGAIN DEFERRED. The advisability of enlarging No. 2 tun- ■ nel at the New Plymouth hydro-electric 1 works to make provision for possible ex- I tension in the future—a question which ■ has been before the Borough Council for ■ some time—was further discussed at F meeting held yesterday. The outcome was that the decision was deferred till Monday night, in order to secure further information as to costa. The members present were: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), Crs. J. Kibby, V. Griffiths, R. A. Large, W. Rumball, R. L. Parkin, E. Dingle, T. N. Blackball and J. Brown. At the request of the council Mr. Owen, of Messrs. Blair Mason, Lee and Owen, consulting engineers, was present in order to answer questions on certain points which members desired claered up. The Mayor said the question had arisen in connection with the enlarging of the tunnel as to what work would be necessary at the forebay outride, assuming the tunnel was enlarged. Mr. Owen replied that they would need to enlarge the forebay to approximately 33 feet in diameter as against 26 feet. Including the tunnel this would make the total extra cost about £B5OO, which estimate, he believed, was well on the safe side. He did not favor leaving the enlargement of the forebay to a later date; the difference in the ultimate cost would not make this course worth while. Cr. Brown said that possibly the outside work could be left, in view of the fact that they might not want it for fifteen or twenty years; this depended on whether they could get extra water or not. Cr. Blackball asked if the engineers could give an idea of the cost of the present tunnel, which had been completed for 6J chains. Mr. Owen replied that he did not have the figures available at present. Cr. Blackball said this was what the council was looking for; they knew the amount of concrete necessary, but desired to arrive at the cost of the earthwork. The data regarding the working of the tunnel up to the present would help them* - in this. Cr. Large said it seemed that the sum of £3BOO was allowed in the estimate for enlarging the tunnel, but until the council got the details they felt somewhat in the dark. Cr. Blackball was of opinion that the council should not come to a decision until they bad received particulars of the cost of the portion of the tunnel which had been completed. Cr. Parkin agreed with the previous speaker, and subsequently, on the motion of Cr. Blackball, it was resolved that figures be brought down on the cost to date, for consideration at next Monday night’s meeting of the council. In the course o£ further discussion Ci*. Kibby asked if the engineers still recommended the council to do the tunnel on the larger size. Mr. Owen L-aid that was a matter for the council, but his firm had rennmmended that surveys be made, with the idea of seeeing if further supplies of water could be secured. The Mayor pointed out that there was the question of time involved. He asked how long the surveys would take. Mr. Owen said he could not say; it might be some weeks before they completed a search. They already had in view two possible sources which could be utilised by diverting them, and one of these could be brought in by a 500-yards tunnel. Cr. Parkin: “Cau the council spend £BOOO on the possibility of getting these extra sources?” The Mayor said this was the whole point. The council subsequently adjourned till Monday.