47

D'.—l

Water-storage. The water drawn off from the lake during the autumn and winter of the past tww years has exceeded the inflow, and as a result the storage has been drawn upon to the extent of 27 in. in 1917, and 33 in. in 1918, below the overflow level of 1,667'5 ft. The actual lake-levels from week to week during the three years of operation are shown herewith. The monthly rainfall observations at the power-house have been as follows: —

The rate of inflow is, however, determined rather by the melting of the snow on the high lands than by the rainfall, and hence the level falls off in autumn, remains low throughout the winter, and recovers in early spring. Preliminary preparations were made during the year for the diversion of a portion of the Harper River into the lake, giving an additional flow of 300 cusecs, equivalent to an additional 8,500 kilowatts for continuous operation, or 17,000 kilowatts on a 50-per-cent. load factor.

Generating Plant. The plant capacity was increased at the beginning of the year from 4,500 to 6,000 kilowatts, Provision has been made during the year for accommodating the fifth generating unit, which will be of 3,000 kilowatts capacity. The turbine for this unit has been delivered, but shipment of the generator and pipe-line has been indefinitely delayed owing to war conditions. Transmission. An exhaustive series of tests has been carried out during the year with the object of locating as far as possible a weakness which has been progressively developing in the high-tension trans-mission-line insulators. The whole of the spare stock of insulators, as well as a large number

7 -I). 1.

1914. 1915. l j 1916. 1917. 1.918. anuary February .. larch Lpril lay une uly August September . . )ctober November .. )ecember . . In. 3-55 1-83 1-37 4-83 2-35 1-71 0-91 1-34 1-91 1-63 2-10 2-90 In. 2-22 2-08 1-35 0-68 2-36 2-09 2-43 0-93 1-37 3-00 2-78 1-44 In. 2-60 ' 0-93 2-08 4-06 3-98 1-27 8-31 3-80 2-75 1-51 3-02 0-20 In. 0-46 2-67 2-87 1-06 3-53 1-01 3-96 2-09 5-78 3-54 0-25 5-13 In. 0-67 2-62 1-72 Totals 26-43 1 22-73 34-51 32-35