New Power Grid At Sockburn In Use

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 8

New Power Grid At Sockburn In Use

The chairman of the Central Canterbury Electric Power Board (Mr W. A. Newton) yesterday turned on the switch of a new power grid at Sockburn sub-station. This brought it up to threequarters capacity, instead of the previous half capacity. New Loan.—The board yesterday decided to issue a further £lOO,OOO loan. It will be known as the No. 17 reticulation loan. Excess Power.—The board decided to foot the bill of about £5 for radio set repairs, when a power consumer in the Hororata area inadvertently received 400 instead of 230 volts during change-over work. Darfield Fuses.— Thirty-five transformer fuses were replaced in the Darfield area after a severe electrical storm. Algidus Reticulation.—The board will continue its investigation to try and get closer to a final answer on the question of power reticulation to Algidus. From a recent survey it has been estimated that an extension of the boards’ reticulation to the site' of the Harper river diversion at the head of Lake Coleridge would cost about £14,800. The continuation of the existing feeder on the southern side of the lake to Algidus is estimated at £5lOO, according to the report of the board’s engineer-manager (Mr S. E. Slatter). Exchange Apprentices.— The board’s apprentice, Mr C. Wright, is serving an exchange apprenticeship of three months with the Central West County Council, a supply authority with headquarters at Parkes, New South Wales. Mr D. Went,

from Parkes, is serving as an apprentice with the board. Redemption Loan.—The board’s secretary-manager (Mr V. G. Mason) yesterday said that several 10-year loans were maturing between November 1. 1965, and March, 1966. Unfortunately, he said, a lot of the original investors were not reinvesting and the response to the new issue had been disappointing. The chairman (Mr W. A. Newton) said that redemption money was “the worrying one.” Loan Money.— Along with other local authorities, the board had found that at the present time there was very little money available for investment in the board’s loans. “This is causing some anxiety,” he said. “The redemption loan in particular ts concerning us at the moment, and we are having to provide temporary funds from the power fund account, which is already in overdraft, to meet debentures maturing."

Fancy Biscuits.—“lf New Zealand wanted to conserve overseas funds I’d say to clamp down on fancy biscuits and imparted stuff,” said the board’s chairman (Mr W. A. Newton) yesterday. “Don't you think they come second to electrical goods? I think they do.”