OPUNAKE POWER BOARD

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 September 1924, Page 7

OPUNAKE POWER BOARD

— ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer’s report for August was as follows:—During the month the Kahui Road extension has been completed as far as the dairy factory. The construction, on this road has proved very difficult in more ways than one, and I have been considerably hampered on account of our poles and transformers not coming to hand. The total length of this line to date is five miles, and the dairy factory has been reached. With a further mile of this line it would be possible to connect up three more milking motors and four houses, and I would suggest that this work be pushed on immediately our poles come to hand. This section was livened up on August 30, and since that date a total of five milking motors and four houses have been linked up. The Kahui Road factory was connected on the Sth inst. We were fortunate in being able to obtain two single phase transformers from the New Plymouth' Borough Council. With these I vas able to relieve two of our own. One was erected in the Lower Pungarehu Road and the other on the Kahui Road. The 15 K.V.A. transformer supplying the Kahui Road factory was obtained from the Taranaki Power Board, and will require to be returned as soon as our own are to hand. I am ideased to state that the high, tension voltage on the Kahui Road factory shows only a very slight drop. Tne fact of this test being made 15 miles from the generating units assures you of being able r .o extend a further seven to ten miles beyound Pungarehu. Weird has been received that five transformers have been shipped from England at the Leginning of last month, and delivery of these may be expected in a month or two. A little trouble is still being experienced from insulators, but for:.umvtely the faults are confined to the sub-lines. [ intend replacing a further two, thousand on the Te Namu, Arawhata and Eltham Roads. A total of 36 miles of line has already been completed, and there is every prospect of getting the whole of this work through this tear. The new mountings for the expansion type cutouts have proved highly successful, and although >everal of the old type are still in service, very little trouble has been expci ienced from these. I intend mounting all the large transformers with the Pacific Electric type fuse mountings, which may be expected shortly. A total of 15 milking motors, 12 houses, 1 . industrial motor, and one stove have been connected during the past four weeks, and a further six milking motors will shortly be oh the service. The way in which the farmers are going in for the motors tends to prove that they are 1 ighly successful, both in operation and limning costs. The time is not far distant when, in this district, the engine for milking will be a thing of the past. The many stoppages during the past months have, no doubt, been the cause of quite a lot of possible power consumers not linking up. No effort has been spared to rectify any weak points in the system, and the consumers are assured of a constant and steady supply of power. During the past few weeks many electrical and distribution engineers have been here to examine the high tension fuse gear. They are invariably of opinion that in no other place in New Zealand have they experienced the difficulties that we are faced with in Opunake. In spite of the above a reasonable service is being maintained, with every prospect of more improvement in the near future. Word is to. hand that our poles are being shipped from Newcastle, and they should arrive at New Plymouth about the end of the month. Out cf a total of 300 there are 200 to be returned to the New' Plymouth Borough Council. I would suggest that 20 poles be put on. the Kahui Road, lo on the Lower Pungarehu Road, and 50 on the Arawhata Road. The latter will pick , up a 30 h.p. motpr at Mr Bartle’s mill and possibly two milking motors. Representatives from the Warea district called on the Board during the month with a view' of obtaining a supply of power from Opunake’. i promised to visit their district and ascertain their requirements, but owing to more urgent work 1 have been unable to make this visit. I feel sure that if the lines were pushed out in this district a good return for the capital outlay may be expected. Seeing that there is no possibility of the present reticulated area, absorbing the output of the plant, I w'ould ask you to give this project your serious consideration. There is a

considerable increase in t-lie daily output of the plant and the peak load has reached 130 K.W. Although the duration of the peak is veiry shorty it may be expected to increase rapidly from now onwards. The day load is building up steadily. In reference to the proposed supply of power to the Taranaki Power Board, the coairman and myself waited on their representatives and discussed ther o'ice per kilowatt delivered at Awatuna. Owing to their board diverting from their original agreement governing the transmission of this power, it was themed advisable to again open negotiations with them., but so far nothing has been arranged, and the matter of charges is still undecided. On the completion of the Kahui Road '.xtension four of the men were put off, rnd the remaining staff consists of assistant engineer, meter reader, lorry driver and one linesman.