the company built a hydroelectric power station on the patea river. it consisted of a wooden dam and a tunnel approximately 100 yards long complete with a surge chamber. two penstocks led water to turbines driving alternators which had been imported from england. the plant produced single-phase alternating current at 40 cycles and 2,200 volts, and had a capacity of 90 kilowatts. in town the voltage was reduced to 105 volts for domestic consumption. parts of the installations remain.