HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1921, Page 5

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

THE POSITION EXPLAINED.

THE MAYOR’S STATEMENTS EXAMINED. No. I. m his reply to the deputation which •wiled on the New Plymouth Borough Counc.l on Monday evening in connection with the proposal to survey the country above the new works to ascertain whether additional hydro resources can be obtained there, as suggested by the consulting engineer.*?, the Mayor was not very helpful to an understanding of the situation. We propose, as briefly as possible, to examine his statements, so that the ratepayers can form their own judgment in regard to a matter fraugl with considerable importance to the town and district.

In the first place, Mr. Wilson said the council had never been asked, only indirectly, to have a survey made of the upper reaches. On April 29 the consulting engineers stated, in ■ r alia:— , “We have examined the watersheds of rhe Waiwakaiho and its tributaries. . . 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.”

Herein the engineers suggest that the survey be made. The borough manager, in a report dated May 16, said: — “I would strongly recommend that the proposal for a fourth pipe line (to deal with additional water power), be further investigated and considered before a derision is given which may have an adverse effect even so far ahead as fifteen or twenty years.”

A deputation of private citizens waited on the council a few’ weeks ago and specifically asked that, before the tunnel was concreted, the survey should be made, therefore wc have the request (1) from the engineers; (2) From the town manager; and (3) from a deputation of representative citizens, yet the Mayor stated the council had never been, directly asked to have the survey undertaken! THE STONY RIVER. The Mayor also said that the engineers in their report laid particular stress upon the possibilities of the Stony River as a source of supply. In point of fact, Stohy River resources are mentioned only incidentally. It is upon the water-sheds of the Waiwakaiho and its tributaries that particular stress is laid. The report in question stated:—

In the basin of the Waiwakaiho and Mangamahoe rivers there are indications that storage areas can be obtained, and at such elevation that would allow of all the water being drawn off into the existing dam site. To feed storage areas on the Mangamahoe basin the Maagawarrawarra river can be diverted into the Mangamahoe by a tunnel of approximately 501 ft long Additional water can also be obtained from the creeks in the Mangorei wafer-shed. With the volume of the water of the Mangamahoe increased, 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.

Certainly the engineers refer 10 the pos- ' sibilities of Bell’s falls, which feed the Stony River, hut clearly 4 hey meant that to be a development of the distant future, paying attention first to the resources nearer at hand. AT WHAT COST? The Mayor admitted that it was possible to get extra water, but added, “at what cost?” Therefore, to take a survey only was not sufficient; they must have estimates. This sounds reasonable enough, but it is certain that if reliable estimates of the cost are to be given, the engineers engaged on the work—whoever they may be—will have to go very carefully into matters before submitting the information.

If detailed estimates are asked for, then it is going to cake a long time, too long to be of practical service. Sufficient should it be for the borough to get approximate figures so that it can tell whether it is worth spending any money now on enlarging the works under construction to deal with further power that may be—and obviously will be—required in the future. The council could effectually kill the proposal by insisting on a detailed estimate of the cost. THE COST OF MAKING PROVISION.

The Mayor said that, according to the I original estimate, it would cost £B5OO to ! enlarge the tunnel, etc., and "this had not oeen authorised by the ratepayers.” Mr. Pearless, the resident engineer, reported to the council on August 8 that the cost of the enlarged tunnel would be £1793 more than the sum provided for boring the smaller tunnel, an estimate based on actual work done. To this had to be added the cost of alterations to the forebay, etc. £3soo—a total of £5300.

As for incurring expenditure not authorised by ratepayers, that is done by the council in connection with nearly all its loans. Power has wisely been given by the Legislature to local bodies to raise and spend an additional 10 per cent, on any loan authorised. But Mr. Wilson may have no fear of objection on the part of ratepayers to the council spending tflie ;£ISOO, or even £B5OO, if by so doing they can eventually place themselves in a position to develop another 3000 horse power, attract a big industry to the place, provide current for the rest of Taranaki, and ultimately save themselves t'he cost of a new tun- ! nel—a matter of some £40,000 to £50,000.

THE BOROUGH’S FINANCIAL OUTLOOK. The Mayor on Monday evening pointed out the seriousness of the financial outlook ’or the borough, what with the I interest to be. met pn the money invested in the hydro-electric extension works yet to “come into profit,” and the repayment of the £134,000 loan in November of next year. What really that had to do with making a survey as asked for by the deputation was not apparent, for the survey itself should not cost more than £3OO.

It will be admitted that New Plymouth has its financial problems like other growing and progressive towns, but it also has assets and advantages not possessed by many. From its land endowment rentals it will henceforth draw an additional £2OOO per year, whilst the new valuations of the low valued land served by the tramwAvs will produce consider-

able further revenue. As for finding the

interest on the money sunk in the ■ hydro-electric works, ft has to be borne in mind that the first year’s interest is J not out of revenue. Interest will cerI tainly have to be found next year on a I substantial eum of loan money thus I sunk, but if the works can be pushed on 1 with and completed in fifteen months irom now, there should be a >et-off in extra revenue. Meantime the tramways I and electric lighting undertaking are J earning greater profits, which will go a . long way towards meeting the interest ! on the hydro-electric loans. J SAYING THE SiTLj.l K)N. The financial position may have been ■ a grout deal worse had not the town ; manager, “off his own bat,” as it were, I succeeded in obtain.ng £60,000 from the A.M.P. recently. Then the works would ' have. v had to be shut down indefinitely, ■ and interest to be found on the whole of the money invested so far in the | works. He saved the situation, and perhaps his salary for the next twenty [years. It is really impossible to estimate what his action in Thi® matter ha? meant for the town. Hid the works, once been shut down we may have, b.id to wait years before the extra power was available.

Incidentally the council calculated, when approaching the financial institutions, to have to pay brokerage and [ other charges on the £60,000 loan. This has all been saved, and would have ' amounted to more than the cost of widening the tunnel, so that when the [Mayor speaks of “unauthorised expend)- ; ture,” it is well to rentember that by the . advantageous terms obtained by the general manager the borough hii« been saved thousands of pounds it would readily have paid in order to raise money to carry on the works.

(To be continued.)