ASHBURTON POWER BOARD.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18362, 21 April 1925, Page 4

ASHBURTON POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of tho Ashburton Power Board wa3 held yesterday. Present Messrs J. Cow (chairman), A. Mcl'arlane, W. H. Ttundle, E. F. Xicoll, H. Morris, A. J. Magson, W. G. Gallagher, W. T. Lill, S. Smith, W. H. Woods and the consulting engineer, Mr J. E. Tcmplin. The Engineer-Secretary reported that the lines round the Soringtield Estate r.nd in the Ashburton Forfcs district had been completed, and that the gang was now workingbetween Valetla and Mavfield. The wiring gang had completed the Winchmoro, Greenetrect and the Upper Marawhiti lines. The treatment of the wooden poles had been coin? on for some time and those in anumber cf districts had been completed. Two men wore engaged on this work. The running engineer reported that all the power house apparatus was in good working order. The units supplied from Lako Coleridge showed an increase of C2'282 over those of the previous month. The Diesel standbv plant hod been run a total of 2G hours 59 minutes. Of this time 11 hours - minutes was for the purpose of peak loaa reduction. The Coleridge power had failed on 14 occasions and the period of interruption had totalled 8 hours 31 minutes. Both pumps at the power houso were in good working order, and the water suppiy had been satisfactory. t> ■ . The inspector reported that the .Uorie house wiring contract- had been completed. The FlMningten-Lagmhor contract was beicj pushed ahoad ar.d Lagmhor wa« being electricallv supplied. The Mavfield house wiring contract. W4» progressing fairly we;.. said tho Alford Forest and Three Springs districts were now supplied with current. Cooking demonstrations had been he.d at Rukaia. Methven Pml Ashburton, and .i-nose demonstrations had created a largo of interest. Xew consumers connected hart totalled 86: Ashburton 13, A Raknia 7, Dorie 22. Lagmhor 19, Walvanuiß, Willowbv-Fiffe'.ton-Hinds 7. The wiring foi shop window lighting was progressing favouia.b!y and would soon be completed. A. total of 34 new applications for current had been received since March 9th. , The report of the Financo and AVorks Committee showed that there had been ordered 3,1 miles of 7-14 at 9.14 d per lb, 300 miles of No. 8 at BJd per lb, .and 100 mue. of No. M at 83d per lb. A new five-water motor-car had been purchased. Mr JJ tr. Welsh had been appointed tolho of '"nsnector. It had been decided to ordci a, further 1200 eteel poles. The consulting ongine"" remarked that it had been thought advisable to order a gocxl stock of copper wire for future use as tho . - wire had never been known to bo so low ae it was at present. , Tho chairman in commenting on the various reports remarked that tho appointment of Mr W. G. Welsh as" not mean an addition to the Bojids • The purchase of a good supply of copper was a really good investment for the Boa.o and would mean a great savin„. U-® nleised to say that, he had received ouila a number of congratulatory expressions of opinio from Ihe ratepayers and oo = of electric current at the rapid which tho Board's construction *ork Jvas bein? carried out and the speedy and efficient way J in which the polo and wiring gango were doing their work. It was re.ll> « eye-opener to tho ratepayers. In about a month or eix weeks' time the Maj fie.d line would bo completed and tho Mayfield residents would be supplied with current Up to the present, a total of 400 miles of poles and wiring had been done and by tho end of the present year it waß anticipated tiiat tho whole 700 miles in the county would be completed. Up to quite recently 20 tons of wire per month had been used m conI nexion with tho polo and house wiring. J. he uso of electric cookers was increasing in a most satisfactory manner, and ho felt sure that cooking by electricity was going to be a big success in the Ashburton town and district. Mr Lill brought up the qu«uion of .the use of the Dieeel engine on the occasions on which the Lake Coleridge power failed and expressed the opinion that the Board should get some robato fro® the Public Works Department on the total charge?. It was stated that to entitle tho Board to anv rebate the Diesel would have to have been in use a total of 100 hours in a rear to supply the loss of current through 'Coleridge failing, but the use of tho Diesel engine for keeping down the peak load would not be taken,into account in thes. 100 hours. , ,• . Tho financial statement showed accounts to bo passed at that meeting to be £2372 Ha 9d on tho Power Fund account; on tho loan account of £213,900, £8037 Is od Tho revenue for March bad been £IMS lis 4d. . The chairman and other members oE tho Board paid a high tribute to the valuable services which had been rendered to the. Board by the three retiring members, Messrs Niooll, Bundle and Wood, who represented the Borough, and a hope was expressed that the burgesses would show their appreciation by ie-electing these gentlemen.