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APPENDIX D.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF ELECTRICAL ENGINEER.

The Chief Electrical Engineer to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works. Sir, — I beg to report on the position of the development of electric power in the Dominion for the past year, as follows :— GENERATING-SCHEMES IN OPERATION. NORTH ISLAND ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM. 1. Capita] Outlay. At the close of the year 1940-41 the total capital outlay was £9,843,028 representing assets in operation, and £1,718,677 representing assets not in operation, giving a total capital outlay of £11,561,705, and Table II gives an analysis of this amount. 2. Financial Results. The total revenue for the year amounted to £1,533,136 and working-expenses £640,884, which resulted in a gross profit of £892,252, equal to a return of 9-37 per cent, on the average capital in operation (£9,519,865). The interest charge for the year was £336,073, and as the statutory limit had been reached for the Depreciation Reserve, no payment was necessary to that account. The net profit was therefore £556,179, of which £284,532 was paid for income-tax, national security tax, and social security charge, £148,937 was appropriated to sinking fund, and the balance of £122,710 was transferred to the reserve fund. Comparative figures for the year ending 31st March, 1940, are as follows : Revenue, £1,328,499 ■ working-expenses, £368,015 ; interest, £345,207 ; depreciation, £15,477 ; with a net profit of £599,800. The accumulated Reserves and Sinking Funds as at 31st March, 194-1, amounted to £2,725,542 Table I gives full particulars of financial results as well as other relevant statistical information. 3. System Operation and Load Despatching. Arapuni and Horahora were run continuously in parallel with Waikaremoana and Mangahao stations for normal operation, and assistance was obtained from auxiliary stations as required. The radio phone channel in connection with load dispatching between Hamilton, Mangahao, and Tuai has been satisfactory, and is being extended to provide an additional band to cover " poor reception " period. Control of the following stations was taken over in March, 1941 : Napier, Taihape, Patea, Te Aroha, Thames, and Tauranga Borough Councils ; South Taranaki and Poverty Bay Electric-power Boards ; and Kaponga Town Board. The Mangahao dams were emptied on sth March, 194 L The station was shut down altogether for five days and limited to half-load until Bth April, 1941, while one pipe-line was painted. The following are the maximum daily and weekly outputs of units from the main stations April, 1940, to March, 1941. Greatest Daily Units. Greatest Weekly Units. System .. 3,949,000, 2nd July, 1940 25,820,000, week ended 7th July, 1940. King's Wharf .. 747,930, 7th. August, 1940 3,891,950, week ended 11th August, 1940 Evans Bay .. 530,450, 6th August, 1940 3,317,600, week ended 11th August, 1940 Arapuni . . 2,561,700, 25th March, 1941 16,048,000, week ended 30th March, 1941 Mangahao .. 440,480, 27th May, 1940 2,950,810, week ended 16th February, 1941. Tuai .. .. 694,400, 19th August, 1940 4,527,910, week ended 18th August, 1940 Horahora .. 285,360, 21st March, 1941 1,887,150, week ended 24th November,l94o Stratford line .. 873,360, 21st March, 1941 4,842,400, week ended 30th March, 1941. The following coal was burnt at King's Wharf during the period April, 1940, to March, 1941 : April, 111 tons; May, 4,880 tons; June, 4,612 tons; July, 11,842 tons; August, 10,595 tons; September, 3,109 tons ; October, 956 tons ; November, 666 tons ; December, 1,432 tons ; January 4,135 tons ; February, 3,120 tons ; March, 5,929 tons. Total coal burnt for period, 51,387 tons. The greatest amount of coal burnt in one week at King's Wharf was 3,881 tons from sth to 11th August, 1940, inclusive. Water was lost over the spillway at Arapuni on the following dates : 7th, Bth, and 9th April, 11th November, 15th to 26th November, and 30th December to 3rd January.

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