ELECTRIC CURRENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1933, Page 13

ELECTRIC CURRENT

COUNCIL ALLEGES THEFT

ERRATIC METER READINGS

Erratic registration by electric current meters installed in a house in. 'Waipapa Koad, Hataitai, resulted in the appearance at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon of Leonard Owen Bcllctt on a charge of stealing electricity valued at £2, and a further charge of doing electrical wiring work without a licence. Bellctt, who was represented by Mr.' A. L. Hollings, pleaded not guilty. Mr. J. Lockic, Assistant City Solicitor, alleged that the. defendant went into occupation of premises at 15 Waipapa: Koad, Hataitai, on February 22, 1933. The electric meter, he said, was then showing a reading of 1760 units. On April 29 a reading of the meter showed 1125 units, this being a reverse reading of 635 units for the intervening period. On May 3 the meter showed 1061 units; on May 10, 10G7 units; and on May 12 1070 units. In view of these inconsistent readings the meter was removed and a now tested meter was put in showing a zero reading. A reading of the new meter on June 7 showed 61 units, and a reading on June 29 showed 9909 units. It was alleged th.-.t the defendant during this period had been interfering with the meter wiring in some way to account for the irregular readings, and it wns suggested that a wire had been inserted between the main switch and a fuse which had the effect of shunting the current round the meter. A witness would be called, said Mr. Lockic, to prove that on April 15 the defendant did actually attach a wire in some manuer to the meter, but the witness was unable to say how the connection was made. It was also significant that the meter used by the defendant when he first entered the house was the same as that used by the previous occupier, and it showed regular readings for twelve months prior to that occupier leaving the premises. The present consumption was being metercd by three separate meters which had been separately installed for the purpose, one being for the actual household consumption, the second being in connection with the hot water service, and a third at the power polo in the street. This regularly recorded the total shown on the other two meters. The meters were at present working satisfactorily, and there was no reason to presume that nny interference had taken place since June 20. It was therefore significant that no alteration in the wiring of the premises had bnpii made since February 22, nnd that the meters which previously showed the peculiar readings were now reading correctly. Witnesses gave evidence afong the lines indicated by Mr. Loclcie. It was denied by Mr. Hollings that Bellctt had ever interfered with the meter. Evidence would bo called, he said, to show that a witness who had said she had seen Bellett interfere with the meter, was actuated by malice, and was under the influence of liquor at the time she wns alleged to have seen Bellett commit the offence. It was submitted that there was something wrong with the wiring, and that this had been thn cause of the meter's erratic behaviour. The case was unfhushrrl when the Magistrate (Mr. E. Pngp') granted an adjournment until Tuesday.