ELECTRICITY PLANT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 25, 13 February 1937, Page 5

ELECTRICITY PLANT

Sale by Havelock North Town board POWER BOARD PURCHASE The Herald-Tribune has been informed that a sale has been effected of the Havelock North Town Board 's electricity plant to the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board. No price is mentioned. wuen questioned by the HeraldTribune this morning, the clerk of the board, Mr. W. H. Anderson, wouid neitner confirm or deny the report, but he said that a full statement of the negotiations between the Town Boaid and the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board was being prepared and would be issued on Monday. „ , Mr. H. H. Wylie, secretary-manager of the Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board, when interviewed, admitted that an agreement h'ad been reached, and that the sale had been arranged. The Havelock North electricity generating station is situated at Maraetotara, and is an automatic hydroelectric plant. It was installed at an estimated cost of £12,500, and had a maximum capacity of 30,000 units a month. The plant was officially set in operation on May 17, 1922. Negotiations between the two bodies concerned have been in progress for some time past. In a statement towards the close of 1936, Mr. H. R. von Dadelszen, chairman of the Havelock North ,Town Board, replied to charges made by the Power Board that Havelock North was not getting as satisfactory a service as the Power Board consumers, and stressed that, if a sale were effected to the Power Board, it would not be at a price which would represent a loss, The board also had to consider the increased cost of pumping water, street lighting and the lighting of public services. if a sale was effected. From this, it appears that the price will be one that is satisfactory to the Town Board. It will be recalled that two years ago the Hawke 's Bay Electric Power Board took over the Hastings Borough Council 's plant at Hastings.