WESTLAND ELECTRIC POWER BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 18 April 1928, Page 3

WESTLAND ELECTRIC POWER BOARD

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18th. The Board met at 12.11 p.m. Present:—Messrs W. J. Butler (Chairman), J. A. Murdoch, R. AYhiley, T. K.-Ches-terinan, B. Ward, and T. AY. Bruce. The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved

Mr Murdoch moved that £lO lie voted to Mr Evans for his services as Secretary to date. The Chairman seconded the motion, stating the amount proposed could not lie considered a sultI aide recompense for the valuable services rendered. The motion was agreed to. Mr Evans, acknowledging, stilted lie considered the vote a very generous one. MR LANGFORD REPORTS. .Mr J. S. Langford, engineer of AVestland Power Limited, who was present, reported on the progress of tho operations of his Company, lie stated ho was pleased to he able to state that they had commenced the supply yesterday at I p.m., and the lirst large sawmill of the district was in operation to-day. The auxiliary station at Duffers was in operation. There were 13 miles of transmission line erected alniig Mail’toy’s tramline. Aralmra A'alIcv. to llolio. A lot of the settlers in the Aralmra Valley had already Loon wired up and farmers supply would lie available immediately. Throe other sawmills were to bo linked up within tin- next four weeks. The work accomplished means the inauguration of the supply of electric power to tho northern portion oi the district. it had boon previously mentioned that tho Grey Power Board should receive 100 killowats. hut the Grey Board had taken up the attitude that they had the first right to the lirst 100. Ho thought it would lie found that the Grey Board clause slated if available. \A itliin a year lie thought instead of 100 they would be aide to enter into a contract for the suply ol 1,000 killowats. i lie cost of construction of their plant and line was less than the estimate and they would lie aide to supply power at a lower cost than tho. first schedule drawn tip and next year Imped for a 20 per cent reduction, which would mean cheaper power than that supplied to areas with a greater number of consumers. He was glad to report that till payments tine to the Government, including interest had been paid, totalling £I3BO, from the total of £7-iOO. The reception of our supply is quite up to expectation and lie predicted a fair demand for mining. Their anticipations Itad been more than realised. Several very substantial consumers have come tilting for mining purposes. Two have completed and others are in hand. They were now proceeding to erect the lirst unit at Dillmans station which will be near AfeGrath’s at No. 1 (lullv. AA’ithin three months they expected to have 1100 li.p. available. .50,1 at the auxiliary and fbe remainder at Dillmans. The l’ublic AVorks Inspector was very (.leased with the arrangements made for transmission. They hat! I" abandon tlie route down the Cbnstclmrcb road owing to tin- narrowness lit the road. It was proposed to ask the County Coun-il to give road access to tlie Duffers station. At present

tliev were transporting with a traumas but road access was required. He would bring this under the notice ot Mr Eurkert at the week-end. Kokataln extension will be proceeded witli aliei applications arc arranged. It " ,,s hoped to give Kanieri (lower by tlie cud of .1 uno.

Mr Murdoch moved a vote of appreciation to Mr l.anglord and liis company. The Board wore in the happy position of having a credit balance and no liabilities. He differed Imm Mr l.anglord in connection villi (Inisteluireh road line in that lie felt tlie objections to that line were well found. ||,. complimented Mr l.anglord t" 1 .* in, ~|,.|v oil till- pi.igic - made to tinreport to-day. It was a healthy infant, well grown, and lie foresaw the Company would progress ami have great icsitlts. lie was impressed with the wax the first station was erected and equipped and was glad to hear the transmission line was completed. The tact that Malfrov’s mill is producing timber by electric power was a Tribute to tlie Compaitv. Mr Langford was the man for the job. He would support the tipplication lor road across. Mr AVtml seconded tlie motion. 1 r was the lirst report Imm their lirst electrical engineer. First lie wished i > thank the Chairman of the Board lor Ids splulidid work- since the inauguration of the Board. Mr Langford bad worked wonders, and deserved tlnur thanks. He was proud to see the line passing tlowit Aralmra Valley, and as time went on lie was sure every settlor would avail himself of the use •>! electric power. He was pleased to hear that Mr Langford was optimistic about future mining operations. 1-inm a Bower Board point of view lie was glint to be a member, because they Imd got done and had not spent much money, lie wished the Company the very best ol suifoss. . Mr Bruce said the Ross United tiseil electric (tower in 1881 for mining; l><»’lirises, lie wished to ask if there was

a possibility of extending their operations to the Totara district. Messrs Chesterinan and AVhile.v supported the motion tributing the work ol the Company. The Chairman said one ol the most satisfactory conditions was there had been no ilagwagging and that their lirst report had been of something achieved-the goods were delivered. Mr Ward had referred to bis (the Chairman’s: work. That bad been done as a labour of love. A great (lea of valuable advice and services bad been rendered by Mr Murdoch. I hen thanks and the thanks ol the distnci were due to him for his services during the negotiations. '1 hey " cu ‘ 111 1 " liappv position that they had not committed the ratepayers to one cent o liabilitv. The Government did a good action in placing the Terctnakau line at the service of the Board and it wd he the means of opening up new industries in this district. The people ol the district are to he congratulated on the success of the operations. _ The motion was put and earned. (11 . I. a ,iufc.nl thanked the Board tor their kind expression of His work had been easy, the that k. beii.u due to the members ot lus Comp ncTwho had financed the operations He Wished to voice the very cruet. consideration and Ucntioi pv » •llwavs hv Mr Butler and Mr Muidoc ■ care fid assistance in protecting tlje rights of the Board and people Mi Ward’s advice to his fellow .armbad been of great assistance L • • from Mr Brace and also fiom Mr Evans whose advice and assistance was fullv appreciated. The Board the, . rose at 1.20 p.m.