WESTLAND POWER BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1928, Page 3

WESTLAND POWER BOARD

FR 1 DAY, DKCK.MKHU 21st. The Hoard met at 2. D0 o’clock. Present : Messrs W. d . Hutlcr ' Chairman ), R. M liiley. If, Ward, T. W. Knue. and ■I. A. -Murdoch. Apology for absence was made on hehall of Messrs ChcHermaii and Wells. Mr •). S. Langford, oil the Westland Power Fimited, was also present by invitation. I lie minutes of the |h'evious meeting were read and confirmed. IX WA R I) CORK KSPOXI)K.XCK. From Audit Office, returning annual halanee sheet, duly certified, and lorwaialing claim for audit fee. Receiv'd

and amount passed for payment. From .Research Department asking particulars regarding standard of electric supply, etc.— Received and referred Lo Mr Fangford to reply.

OPFRATfOXS OF WHSTLANI> POWFR LTD.

From ,|. S. Fangford as follows: Wo winiii| report upon this underlak ing as follows:

Purchase of Water Races. Payments due mi account of purchase ol these races and in accordance with the agreement have hecu completed to date, namely C1.’120, principal. and £.■>')(> Ms 2d. inleresl. Plant Installci!.- -Since last meeliiig vim Pdlnmn’s Power Slat ion has heen (U'ected and the lirsl unit ol L2lkw ca.paeity installed. This unit is at

present in intermittent operation carrying the load of the system during oar! of the day. and will he put into regular service during the lirsl workin .January. This plant together with Hie auxiliary plant at Weiinna pipe line provides normal general ing rapacity of 1221> h.p. Thiriy-ft nr miles >f transmission iiie-s have heou (.‘i'e ,, l - ed ingot her wit h I raus r orniers and I lie necessary cipiiomcnl In- dislribul inn jo various users of power.

Road \- cess lo power Slat inn. Hur ■ pnlii-ii ion lor ro-ul access to lII'\i:-, iliary IVa u Sialion al Waimea ijp,, has heen withdrawn, hu! "•’

. nroi i-i-e. |,o a k fur a similar f' l "- i|j | V ill eiillliei-l ioli with Ihe R! H MCI •' .'•'.tai ion. Thimi'di I lie cnurlesv o' ihe Oku.ktt Sawmilling (’omp-uiv an

'irrangemeni. has Lei n mad" I'm- tln i !s ,. of ils orival" road and irarnl;!"is access lo the site, hut in view

the necessity for r-adv access to snail important puli!ic utility u '' ! h nose to ask the aul in " - i I ies -ru-' i„ pen vide his road am! we solicit V<>"r sii'uiort in conne-l ion with this mat-

Cancellation o-f Water Race Fx I elisions. I’mler the terms of Urn agn - ,OMi with the Mines DnnaH iimnt sc ■- lions of watei races which are not reip!ired for power niirr-ose may lie sur rendered sullied to the aonoval of flic "Minister of .Mines lirsl limin'; "!■- iiiined. Owing to the fact that the section of water race known as tee Waimea water race, from the disi barge end of Waimea pipe line to the extremity of the rm-e. and its Lram-h-----s. cannot be teed lor power purpose;,,,d is no longer requir'd for mining, ■is the mining held in that area habeen eoniplel elv worked "ill. we ie commend that tliis section of Mm water race he surrendered and would ask for your a lit Imrity t" np|»ly for this surrender.

|„ i.ddition we would point ,1 " 1 t hat this seel ion ol r:i-“ '-' as in sui h a had state of re-air when the svsl-m was taken over that the only user of water from tlm end of ra.-e was nimble |o obtain a continuous supple I herefrom. lull that user is now being supi,|iod with electric power from <!"'

system. Mem hors expressed pleasure at the progress of the company and eoiignil.illated Mr Langford on the success being achieved. Regarding mutters raised in UlO above report, it was resolved to ask Iho Countv Council to apply for a mail it rant for access to the Hillman’s Power Station as soon as the estimated cost ,-ould he ascertained hy the County Overseer.

It was further resolved lo agree to the ,surrender of (lie unused section or the old water race referred lo 111 the report, tho portion not being in a usable condition.

Mr Langford in supplementing his report slated that Hie Hillmans station would comprise ultimately three units (.wo of L2I) k.w. each, and one of I2A<) k.w. eipial in all to .‘loOO h.p. lilis would he silppiemeuli-d by the auxiliary station on the pipe line, to he increased to .’ISO h.p. or BS.’IO h.p. in all. generated from I lie hydro-eleel ri< system. 1

M.r Murdoch considered this a re markable iv.ull and thought it ha heen a mistake in not developing Ilia source of power for operating the Otira tunnel as was suggested oiiginnlly lull I timed down hy the engineer. Mr Langford continuing said that Hie tot.-il leiigih ol Ira nsmissloil line ill about twelve months’ time would hi about SI; miles -or more limn doitbli the len-’th now erected. I'iattieri town

ship' would lie linked up early in lln new year. Mr Chesterimiii had assist ed in the local canvass lor users an Ihe result in that neighbourhood hat neon \ cry s i I i.-'l act nry indeed. Mr Rime rrlerred to the I,.alter ;

aii ill -■ j 1 ■ 1 tiou lour of the works. In reply Mr Langlon! said a lull da.; would in* required. ami Im siiggestec tim second wed: in .lannary, when tin • hairman of the Company would In

la re. Members -Igieed they v. rj;i! 11 he ver iu'.eresied in making Hie tot;r. In coni 11111; i- •- h,s si al enienl, M

!,. 111.. lonl :1 1 i a, very interest ,11 > pitasIlf the scheme of elect,l ie supply was in its cppli- : I i 11 in alluvial gold mining 1 here had been a eiulain amount o:

'•.'■.peritneiiia! work necessary, hut the practical stage had now been reached. They had petsoii.-i interested ill milling viewing the process with a view to it general application, and tin* eoiiel 1 sinus reached had been very satisla lory. The mtu'ng pi ssihilit es mu.- t la icganied as very promising hy the ap plication of electric power for the per lormam-e of ' certain phases ml the work.

Mr While.v expressei 1 some regret : 1 the apparent indifference ol the Kid-:a lalii district to the scheme, lie attend ed a meeting recently in the distri-t when* there was quite an absence ol enthusiasm.

Mr Ward felt that the settlers din not realise the benofils. He us-s thonly nietnher of the Hoard wan wausing Westland power lor lighting an operating his larm at Arahura, and lie could say the electric light and pnwe; had added fifty per cent to the pie sun of life. It took away quite a lot <<! the |':irm drudgery when the whole si r \ icc was used and made life in tin count rv worth living.

I he Chairman felt when I lie line was at Kanirri. the wish (for its extension to Kokatahi and other adjoining town ships would he more general. He i*’ I * sure they were all pleased to lone Mi Langford’s progress report, and had t< (nniplimcnt him ami t.lio company on the manlier in which Westland ' Powet Limited was heeoming estahlislied in the district.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mi Langford for his attendance, am! I'm the interesting information rommum (•lift'd fo the Hoard. The meeting concluded at -i.-kl p.m