POWER BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4464, 8 September 1922, Page 1

POWER BOARD.

SEPTEMBER MEETING. Mr F. H. Claxton presided at last Tuesday’s meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board at Te Aroha. Also present were Messrs J. B. Thomas, C. A. Arthur, F. E. Flatt, J. Bell’, J. W. Anderson. J. Pohlen, A. R. Robinson, J. Miller P. Grace, and J. McCormick. The Cambridge Electric Power Board asked if! the Board fixes a minimum deposit in respect to financial assistance for electrical, installations. —lt was stated that the Thames Valley Board’s minimum is one-third of the total cost.

The Public Works Department, Wellington, advised that the election of members takes place in November, of this year, not in November 1923 as had been s 'ated.

The question of altering the Act to provide for adjusting the matter of representation from local bodies’ districts would probably be dealt with in the Amending Act shortly to Le presnted- to Parliament. The electrical engineer, New Zealand Railways, Wellington, forwarded particulars of the .actual charges in connection with the provision, of crossings for electric wires over railway lines at varous points. Wages were shown as £142 Ils Bd, commission £27 13s 4d, and stores £169 18s 2d ; a totail of £340 3s 2d. This‘works out at £4B Ils 10'y 2 d per crossing, which is less than the original estimate of £5O.

Mr Flatt questioned the wages figures, considering "the whole thing very unsatisfactory."

The chairman considered further details were necessary. The Board’s foreman had estimated the wages at about £2O. Mr Anderson said that at one crossing the banks had been lowered to give the wayfarers a clearer view of coming trains. He thought that should not be charged against the Board.

At the instance of Messrs Flatt and Anderson it was decided to ask the Department Cor detailed costs of work done at each crossing. The Minister for Public Works advised that he will give early consideration to .the Board’s request in respect to amending the representation of the Board.

The Hauraki Plains County clerk advised that the pole erected op. Ngatea bridge will not be Ion? enough to permit vessels to pass through the bridge when the wires are erected on the poles. He asked that steps be taken at an early date to have the matter rectified.

The engineer stated that the wires are 63 feet above high-water. The Marine Department only required a clearance of 60 feet Shipping owners will be obliged to see that the height of the masts does not exceed this limit.

The district electrical engineer, Public Works Department, forwarded the following conditions for the use of the Department’s line for supplying the Maungatautari district: (1) Combined maximum demand to be measured at the Horahora point of supply ; (2) .line rental of £8 per mile per annum to be paid by the Board for the length of line btween. Horahora and the Board’s farthest transformer (this is subject to revision if the total load in the Maungatautari district exceeds 50 k.v.a.); (3) a pole rental of 2s per pole per annum to be paid for such poles as are used by the Board ; (4) the Board tp pay cost of necessary alterations to the Department’s telephone wires apd crossarm and pthei; alterations necessary to the Department’s line. The district, electrical engineer, Public Works Department, advised that it has been arranged with the Education Department to have available information bearing on first aid in cases of electric shock inserted in the Education Gazette for the information of teachers, and also that the teachers will be asked to include the the instruction in their health lessons to the children. Copy of a poster suitable for reproduction was enclos-ed.—-It was' decided to endeavour io obtain 100 copies from the Government printer for exhibition in depots and at other places. The chairman mentioned that the Board’s workmen have been unloading poles and crossarms at Kopu at a cheaper rate than could be done by contract, according to tenders obtained.

The agreement between the Bpatd and the Rising Sun Goldmining Co. for the supply of power to the mine at Owharoa was approved, and the chairman and Mr Arthur were deputed to sign. Comment was made on the great delay occasioned in laying the cable across the Waihou River near Paeroa owing to a dredge not being made available by the Public Works Department. The latest information was that the Department hoped to make a dredge available within a week. Mr Flatt said the Board had been very unfairly treated, and he moved that the history of the case be Jail before the Minister of Public Works at once and that an explanation be demanded. —Agreed to.

Mr Flatt drew the attention of the Board to the fact that they were under the impression, through their engineers, that negotiations were under way, and it now transpir.es that although it had been promised the use of the dredge since last April the Board .had no official communication from the Department to assist in bringing aobut the desired results.

Mr McCormick wanted faster progress made on the Thames section, particularly at Matatoke, but it was pointed out that some mecgssary equipment being unprocurable was

the cause Of the delay. j The engineer said he was making . as much progress as possible. It was J not desirable that another gang, should be created. To proceed at once , with the work at Matatoke would ; mean taking a gang from elsewhere — I possibly from Ngatea—but it would ; be better to complete one section before continuing the Matatoki district reticulation.

It was decided, at, the instance ct Mr Grace, tp make a canvass of the Waikino and W.aitekauri districts.

The manager, informed Mr Flatt that a canvasser is at present in the Awaiti district, but many settlers there hesitated to sign up until something definite , was available respecting the cable across the Waihou River at Paeroa.

The chairman said that as soon as information on this point was available it would be given to the press.

Mr Bell asked that the engineer and manager should not lose sight of the need for reticulating the McGregor’s Road locality near Morrinsville. The farmers there were anxiously awaiting power. Mr Robinson said settlers on the Hikutaia Settlement road wanted to be linked up. He thought a satisfactory demand existed.

The manager, replied that unless the work could be undertaken within three or four months it was hardly worth while canvassing for customers.

Mr Grace said that while there was a good prospective demand there was little prospect of power, being available this season.

Mr Robinson said he could not understand why that section had been missed. He thought a loop-line from Waitekauri to Hikutaia had been intended.

The chairman said it was later found more suitable to serve that locality from Hikutaia end.

It was decided to send a canvasser to Hikutaia Settlement at an early date.

The chairman said the canvasser would be busy for awhile at Tauhei, Morrinsville-Tahuna road, Gordon, Baker’s Road, and one or twp other districts. Mr Arthur advocated employing an extra canvasser, and if necess'ary another wiring gang should be engaged. It was bad business to delay reticula;

flop until the end of the milking season. He moved to this effect. Mr Robinson said he would support the idea outlined by Mr Arthur, though* he did not .want to “get ahead," of any other, district. Mr McCormick seconded.

Mr Anderson opposed the motion, saying that there were sections agreed upon a year ago that were not yet supplied. He mentioned the Manawaru district. Was it economical to put on another gang ? He moved as an amendment, that the matter be deferred for a month, the en-i gineer and manager to prepare reports showing the requisitions already decided upon but not yet completed. Mr Thomas, though approving the general principle of Mr Arthur’s motion, opposed it on the ground that it entailed engaging a special gang to do one particular section. Mr Miller said the policy should he to reticulate areas where economical loads could be obtained. Canvassing was necessary to determine where best revenue was obtainable. Mr Flatt supported the amendment, amplifying Mr Thomas’ contentions. Mr Poh.len wanted to see each au- , thorised section completed before ' fresh sections are commenced. He instanced the line from Te Aroha 1.0 Manawaru and the one from Matam.ata towards Manawaru to link up this section.

Mr Arthur, replying, said works had been already authorised. These should be put in hand and completed with all expedition. Supplies of material were expected to be ample within one month. The executive should be authorised to engage gangs and canvassers, and even to purchase a car or two if necessary, to push ahead with the work as rapidly as possible. Mr Miller suggested that Mr Arthur should alter his motion to provide that extra efforts be made to quickly complete works already authorised. Mr Flatt pointed put that the two ship-loads of poles expected shortly were already required for work mapped out. Ngatea required one shipload of poles itself. The chairman said the engineer was not prepared to state offhand whether extra men could be economically employed at once. The amendment was carried.