OTAGO POWER BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 21751, 20 June 1934, Page 3

OTAGO POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Electric Power Board was held yesterday at Alilton. Mr G. Aloore occupied the chair, and there were also present -Messrs W. Lee, C. R. Smith, A- E. Russell, R. H. Michelle, J. K. Simpson, and D. Boyd. FINANCE. The following arc the financial transactions of the board for the mouth o) Alay:—Receipts from rates amounted to £352 5s lOd; sundries, £lB 3s 3d; sundry debtors, £127 14s 3d; electricity, £4,357 17s 2d: total, £4,856 Os Od, as against £3,745 18s 2d for the_ same period last year (electricity £3,508 os 4d). The pass book showed a credit balance of £6,055. Accounts amounting to £3,645 11s 7d were passed for payment during the month. For the same period last year the expenditure totalled £1,150 5s 9d, and the bank overdraft was £6,138 0s lid. Tho report was adopted, and accounts amounting to £469 14s lid were passed for payment. , ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Air K. D. Veitch) reported:— In Owaka two new services Mere run and one service changed from a twowire to a four-wire. The district quartcrly meter reading has been performed, together with the usual servicing. The Lawrence area’s H.T. fuses have received attention. At Beaumont a service involving a pole extension has been run. As in Owaka, the quarterly meter reading has been performed. In the Balclutha-Stirling-Kaitangata district five new services have been run and line work in connection with the Kaitangata Coal Company’s supply of power proceeded with. Low tension in Balelutha and Kaitangata has received attention. At Inch Clutha strengthening poles have been fitted to the high tension. Several transformer fuses have been removed for galvanising and fitting new insulators. Strengthening repairs have been made at Rosebank. In Milton four dozen meters have been tested: repairs have been carried out to ladders. Three specially insulated fuses to resist the action of Jiine have been made up for the Dominion Lime Works. Because of repeated trouble on the Milton low tension an inspection is being made of consumers’ mains. Unfortunately it has been found necessary to condemn a number. At’ botli Aloneyniore and Lovell’s Flat a pair of telephone line insulating links have been fitted to facilitate the detection of faulty main line insulators. Low tension lines have received attention in fields where the required ground clearance, was approaching the minimum. Tree trimming has received attention. At Milton North line alterations have been made to allow of the construction of a now road, bridge. On the main line extra pole steps have been fitted near Alary s Landing, and guard hooks fitted to the main line phone. Two services have been run. Oil has been added to several distribution transformers. Longer arms and new insulators have been fitted to two high tension lines where weaknesses developed causing interruptions to supply- . . in the northern area a serious interruption to supply occurred on May 18, when, due to a 33,000-volt conductor breaking through chafing, power was off from 2.15 p.m. to 6 p.m. An opportunity will be taken to inspect neighbouring points, and a section switch is being installed two miles south of AVaitati to expedite the finding of future faults on this section of line. Heavy wind during the month lias kept the Waitati redosing gear more busy than usual, but these interruptions have been for a matter of minutes only. In Palmerston two poles were erected and low tension increased in size to improve tlie voltage regulations at the school.One new street lamp has been installed. Seven transformers have been painted and the earth testing in tho Waitati district completed. Tho high tension testing equipment has been sent to the northern test room, and seventy-five oil tests have been conducted on the system’s extra high tension (11,000 and .’13.000 volt) transformers. ' Rubber gloves and meters have also been tested. Transformer leads at Purakanui have received attention. Two insulators were replaced on the Purakanui line. Pole blocking and fuse replacements have been effected at Warrington, Seacliff. Merton, and Waitati. Tree cutting has been performed in many places in this area. The report was adopted. REDUCED CHARGES SUGGESTED. Air Smith referred to the scheme recently adopted by the Dunedin City Council to popularise the use of electricity, with particular reference to tic selling of electric ranges on easy and attractive terms. Ho suggested thal tho chairman and engineer might bring forward some scheme—preferably involving reduced charges for electricity —which could lie put into practice by the board.—The matter was held over until such time as suggestions could be put before tho board by the chairman and engineer. ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The Electric Power Boards and Supply’ Authorities’ Association of New Zealand advised that the annual conference would be held in September, and invited boards to forward remits. —Afcssrs Aloore and Russell were appointed to represent the board at the conference. UNRETJGU LATED RATEPAYERS. A deputation consisting of Alcssrs G R. Davidson (representing Air T. Davidson), J. Al. Hall, R. O. Breen, and Al. Girvan, of Lawrence, waited on the board to protest against having to pay rates when they were not able to enjoy the benefits of electric power. Mr Simpson introduced the members of the deputation, and said that Ik knew they had a grievance. Had it been possible to give them relief th. board would have done so long ago However, by opening up the question once again they might be able to read; a belter understanding of the position. Ho intimated that the board had just reached tho decision to reduce its rates by 50 per cent. Air Davidson said he had been unable to secure any rebate on rates, and asked that the board should consider giving him a rebate on future rates, (he Southland board gave a rebate ol >l6 2-3 per cent, to unreticulated ratepayers whose properties were more than a certain distance from the power line. Mr Smith said that under the existing legislation the board did not have the power to give unrcticulatecl ratepayers tlie relief they wanted.’ There was a lengthy discussion on the possibilities of supplying them with power, and it was eventually decided that tho engineer should inspect flic properties concerned and report to the board on the matter.