POWER BOARD WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4387, 8 March 1922, Page 3

POWER BOARD WORKS.

PAEROA AND THE PLAINS ENGINEERS’ MONTHLY REPORT. Messrs Gauvaih and McLeod reported as 'o.llows to tng Thames Valle) Electric Power Board yesterday: PAEROA-tTHAMES SECTION. The survey for the whole of the area between Paeroa and Thames 1 , in-> eluding all side roads, has now been completed, and comprises about 44 miles of 11,000-volt lines single circuit and 33 miles of 400-vplt lipe. About two miles of 11,000-volt and 3% miles of 400-!volit poling has been erected in the Hikutaia block; this completes the poling in this section for the time being. The poling in the Wharepoa block’, consisting of three miles of 11,000 , -ivolt and three miles of 400-volt, lines has also been completed. The double circuit 11,000-volt line has been wired up to within abom two miles of Hikutaia. The Rangiora Road is now completed witn transformers connected up ready for supply as s'oon as we can make themain line alive. The 11,000-volt double circuit line from Paeroa to Puke bridge, up Hubbard's Road, and round to'Nathan’s transformer was made alive on Feb-’ ruary' 17. Some of the Paeroa Borough load has been taken off the main transformer and divided between the Hill Street and Nathan’s transformers. The main ‘line poles, from the east end of the Rahu Road to above Joughr in’s quarry were well in the rush of the flood during the last storm. The line stood quite satisfactorily, though the earth was scoured pound some of the poles. As this is a main line it is necessary that every precaution be taken to provide against any damage from future floods, and arrangements are being made to concrete round the base of poles where considered necessary. Out from Paeroa in all directions the poles have been exposed to the rush of'the flood, in some cases the wator having risen eight feet up the pole, but so far no damage has been discovered.

..... HAURAKI PLAINS SECTION. Very little work has been done on this section during the ■ past month. A number of poles have been deliver-" ed to the dumps;, but only eight have been distributed, the big lorry hav-; ing been laid up since February 11 owing to tyre trouble, and the small lorry was employed .the whole of the time supplying other gangs in trie district.. ' The big lorry was in commission on March. 2, and it will be’.tried again on the Plains. Prices were obtained from outside contractors for/Carting and distributing poles in this area, but the prices were considered to be too high. MANAGER’S REPORT. The manager (Mr R. Sprague) reported as follows: - ANOTHER PLAINS 'dANG. Poles are now being laid on the Hauraki Plains and a start is being made with cross-arming. I would like to mention that the standard of erection by the beard at the present time is very satisfactory, and wpuld like the board to consider the employing of a further gang to. operate on the Hauraki Plains’ during the next month. —’Agreed to. JJGATEA-PIPIROA LINE. SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT. The assistant engineer, Mr H. Laydon, reported as under: The Ngatea-Pipiroa line is being proceeded with. A considerable amount of time was taken up during the week in trying to come to a satisfactory understanding re the right to erect poles, along the roads, but I regret to say that the position is still unsatisfactory. The position is as follows : some otl the roads are under \ the Lands and Survey Department, ■ ' the department at present controlling the majority, but the County Council will take. over most of the existing roads in about two months’ time. On the other hand, the Turua Town Board will probably take over at the same time, its area being mately a mile radius from the Turua post office. The county engineer is also due to leave shortly. The position is that nobody wants to take the responsibility of either refusing or

granting permission to erect poles along roads. I have pressed for a decision as much as possible, and the county engineer has passed the Tfirua line, subject t,o alteration .of the tele.graph pole at Turua ptist office, but as the Post and Telegraph engineer is going tp cable this crossing this pole can be cut out altogether. The majority of the Kerepeehi Road, together with the Ngatea-Plpirpa and adjoining roads, are under the Lands and Survey Department, and the most definite answer I can get from the Resident Engineer (Mr Taylor) is, “I consider that the line should not go along these roads r but, I do not. order you to take it off.” This decision holds for practically every existing road on ,the Hauraki,Plains. I tried to compromise by offering to go into private property wherever the roads were narrow, and pointed out that conditions did not permit of carrying the line altogether on private property. The whole trouble is that the Department has made a mistake in not only taking two deep drains out (f a chain road, but have in some cases brought the drains inside the 66 feet. Sometimes these drains are wide and sometimes narrow, and the road varies accordingly. Mr Taylor made a strong point that, roads at present un-' der construction were one and chains wide, and that we would then be alright, but of course I must say that these are outside the present reticulation. Personally, I consider that some roads are too narrow, and in these cases we are going into private land. In others there is plenty of room, while others again are, of course, debatable. But to make a ■weeping statement regarding all rosds and thus penalise the Board fiot’ the Department’s mistake Is unfair, From our standpoint it is adContfnucd In next Column.

Continued from; previous Column, visable to keep to the road -wherever possible, as the ground is comparatively solid there. The really bad ground seems to be on the left bank of the Piako, that between Ngatea and Pipiroa being peat, without the usual three or four feet of clay over-; burden. At present I am carrying the Pipiroa line along the road in the usual way, and will consult Mr .McLeod before taking further action with the Department. As regards the residents of. th® Plains, they are probably opposed T the poles going along the roads, *but they are very anxious to get the power through and will not do anything to cause delay. The manager said the deadlock referred to had been adjusted since the date the letter was written.