ELECTRICAL POWER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2732, 10 February 1910, Page 5

ELECTRICAL POWER.

THE WAIKAREMOANA SCHEME.

Mr. W. D. Lysnar, who returned to Gisborne yesterday from South, gave a “Times” representative some interesting particulars regarding the great scheme to harness the waters of Waikaremoana for the purposes of generating electric light and power, and about which a conference of borough representatives of Napier, Hastings, Wairoa, and Gisborne was held in Napier. W hen going to the conference, Mr. Lysnar had a feeling that the scheme was beyond Gisborne’s reach, but on reading Mr. Geo. Nelson’s report, and working out a comparison of the position with the scheme already authorised by the ratepayers, he had absolutely no doubt as to what would' be the right and proper thing to do: that they must give the Waikaremoana. scheme their most favorable and hearty support if Mr. Nelson’s figures were supported by other experts. In order to thoroughly understand the position, it is necessary to quote figures comparative of the two schemes. The capital cost of the Gisborne scheme is £16,142, with an annual cost of £3267. For this the borough is to got a lighting plant of 100 horse-power, and it was estimated that they could sell private lighting at 8d per unit, street lighting at 4]d, private power •Id, and sewage power 3d. Assuming that the Waikaremoana No. 2 scheme be adopted, Mr. Lysnar continued, which would seem to be the most prudent at this juncture, the cost with interest, depreciation, cost of generation, and maintenance added would be £28,000. and according to Mr. Nelson’s figures the estimated yearly revenue was £36,000, showing a profit of £BOOO. This allows for power being sold at -kl per unit for large manufacturing industries, with a rising scale chargeable to the smaller industries. Private lighting could be sold at 3d per unit, and public lighting at 2d, as compared with the authorised scheme in which private lighting was 8d and street lighting Mr. Lysnar went on to say that gas for power is at present sold in Gisborne at 6s 4d per 1000 fret, and electricity at 8d per _ unit equals town gas at 4s. The Gisborne share or the annual expenditure under fbo Waikaremoana scheme would be £7OOO. Making a fair allowance for the power used at both freezing works, at Id pe r unit, it should produce £4463, thus leaving £2537 to he found hv the ratepayers out of general revenue as compared to £3267 for the sn aller scheme authorised, and _at which it is not suggested to be possible to sell power to the freezing works. By adopting No. 2 scheme of Waikaremour.a. the - result would be that the borough would have, delivered in Gisborne. a continuous and steady delivery of 950 horse-power, which with a comparatively small additional expenditure could be increased to 1950 horse-power. The cable way to carry the current would be made large enorgh to carry the increase, and the other principal works would he made in proportion to suit, but extra dynamos would be necessary with other incidental expenses. The magnitude of the works could be gained from the fact that the present scheme authorised for Gisborne pro* rides for only 100 horse-power! In conclusion, -Mr. Lysnar referred to the enormous possibilities of the scheme, in regard to the benefit itwould be to the district’s industries and the creation of new ones. "The good cannot be estimated,” he affirmed. While in Napier Mr Lysnar discussed the position with Mr. J. igor Brown, M.P., after the conference. Napier's Mayor, aeeordjng to Mr. Lysnar. takes a practical business view of the whole aspect, and the ouestion was discussed between them as to what procedure should bo adopted to have the subject further investigated and dealt with. Mr. Brown agreed with Mr. Lysnar that, after the preliminaries had been, gone through by the respective localities’ interested, steps should, be Taken to have Mr. Nelson’s report verified by some other electrical experts and possibly by a Government expert, while also immediate steps should be taken to ascertain on what terms, power rights could be obtained from the Government.