Electrical Development in New Zealand

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 29, 31 January 1930, Page 31

Electrical Development in New Zealand

Good Work by Public Works Department

JN 1910 the decision was reached by the Government of the day -to establish main generating stations for the ‘ ‘Supply of electricity to the population of New Zealand. Even at that time the conception was envisaged of a large part of the power requirements of the Dominion being derived from the practical development ..of the . abundant water ~power resources of the country. That policy -has been continued in the intervening 20 years, until ‘to-day the nosition is that ‘effective stations are in operation in.a number of localities, with some work still to do to complete the. comprehensive schemes laid down. The Government, as at March "81, 1929, had ‘an investment of £8,467,465 in its hydro-electric development. Local authorities created under statute, which obtain their power wholly or in part from the Government. have in their turn an investment in electricity of £11,534,318; whilst certafn other authorities, who are independent of Goyernment supply, have an investment of £6,088,424,. There is thus upwards of £26,000,000 sterling directly invésted by primary authorities in the provision’ of electricity for industrial and private consumers. .The South Island... , [ise Coleridge, designed to supply the City wf Christchurch and certain parts of the Canterbury provincial area, was commenced in 1910, and the station came into operation about the end of 1914. This station has been outstandingly successful, and has contributed in no small part to the steady development of the City of Christchurch in the intervening years, and the provision of the amenities of civilisation _to both city and country residents in’ that area. From the financial point of view the station shows a satisfactory record. . The capital invested is. one and a half millions, and the revenue is sufficient.to pay interest charges and 2 per cent. depreciation, and still leave . 2 profit on last year’s working of £50,374, This was paid into the. sinking fund, and.the scheme now has a depreciation reserve of. £192,359 and a sinking fund of £112,384. Power from Lake Colerigige was a factor in the electrification’; of the Lyttelten-Christchurch railway tunnel, the completion of which was a boon to the long-suffering travelling public, . TN Dunedin, the Dunedin City Council led the way, so far as the cities were concerned, by itself undertaking qthe development of power at Waipori, That scheme has been ‘outstandingly successful, and has rendered distinct service to that community. At the pre.Sent time the Government, in order to provide power for Otago ‘and other parts of the South Island, has under way a very large scheme at Waitaki, in North Otago. When this is completed it will give a surplus of power for sale to Dunedin, and haying that point in mind, negotiations are.in progress between the Government’ and the Dunedin City Council, with a view to the absorption of Waipori and the attain-

ment of the advantages represented by "the operation of the two plants by one controlling authority. Pe ; The North Island. N the North Island three major _. Schemes are now in operationviz, Mangahao, Waikaremoana and Arapuni. » The Mangahao plant was the first to get into operation in a partial supply of. Wellington City, and Wellington provincial ‘area, The plant, however, proved incapable’ of: meeting. all the ‘ demands ‘made upon: it; but that position has now been rectified by the completion of. inter-connection with the huge plant at Waikaremodna just opened. This’ station was first begun in 1923, and a small plant was installed for local supply and construction purposes. ‘This plant is admirably situated for contributing an immense supply of power to ‘the North Island, and: plans are under way for linking it up withthe other monster’ plant at Arapuni. Arapuni has: not yet reached its major capacity,’ but has’ been supplying power as from June 4, 1928, when the first 15,000 k:w. unit’ commenced operating, "A second unit was completed early last year, and a‘ third unit has now reached finality. Reticulation of the Auckland _province, in readiness for the supply of Arapuni power, has been proceeding apace over recent years, such: Shift as was possible being made with power from Horohoro unit...’ The position now is that in the North Island substantial progress has been made towards completing reticulat‘. n. of the main populated districts, and with the adequate coverage thus provided, opportunity is afforded for the. generous and adequate use of electricity in ‘the. home: a A Creditable Record: N the prosecution of the ‘comprehénsive schemes for the general pro- © vision -of electricity, certain disabilities have been met in the way of peak prices for both electrical material and labour, as well as natural’ difficulties associated with the selection of ‘sites, etc. These problems have in some dégree inflicted a small overload upon | vhe various schemes; but once the undertakings were’ begun,. the . only . sensible. policy was to prosecute the work with vigour to a satisfactory conclusion. That has been the aim of the Department in each field, and haying regard. to all the difficulties encountered, congratulations may be ‘extended to the Department and its. engineering staff for the way in: which the various difficulties have been met and oyercome. The position now is that both city and country populations of the Dominion have: electricity ‘at hand in an increasing degree, and there can be no question but that as years go by the enterprise shown ‘n making this modern convenience ‘avai)able to the public: will -meet..with. its reward, and play its part in"maintaining a high standard of civilisation and home comfort in the Dominion,