ELECTRIC POWER BOARD

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4479, 13 October 1922, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER BOARD

MONTHLY REPORTS. The following reports were submitted to the Thames Valley Electric Power Board meeting at Te Aroha on Tuesday afternoon on’’the Work pf the past month: MANAGER’S REPORT. On September 13 the 3000-volt line on No. 7 Road broke owihg to boyis aagin throwing missiles. The breakdown occurred about 4.50 p.m., and the power was off on that section for about, two hours. Approximately 80 motors were put out of operation, 1 immediately instituted inquiries, and gathered that the cause was owing to two boys throwing a piece pf barbed wire over the high tension line. In* formation was laid with, the police and the youths were brought before the Magistrate at Te Aroha on Monday, October. 2. I pointed out to the Magistrate the dangers arising, and that the Board’s lines were being continually interfered with through children throwing stones, etc. He adr ministered a warning and convicted the youth and ordered, his parents to pay the costs, I did not press for a penalty in this case as the intention was for this to act as a warning, and in the event of any repetition the Board would be compelled to ask for severe penalties and damages. Canvassing.—As instructed at the last board meeting a canvass has been made at Hikutaia of the Maratoto Road ajid the New Settlement Road, the results of, which.ar.e as. follow : Maratoto Road, 3% miles, nothing ; New Settlement Road, 3 miles, 3 motors, 3 lighting houses. The result does not warrant the work proceeding at present. Okoroire and Walton Districts.— The canvass h'as been completed, and upon the arrival of poles the erection will be started and completed. Canvassing is being mode Mangateparu, Wardville, Tauranga-o-moana, and Manawaru sections, Hauraki Plaihs.—The line is now alive as far as Turua, apd wiremen are engaged on installations. The demand for power on .the Haunaki Plains is very heavy.

Conference. —A meeting of the South Auckland Power Boards League was held at Hamilton on September

17. The chairman (Mr Claxton) and Messrs Gauvain and McLeod and the manager represented the Board. Remits were discussed and united action deieded upon. The Dominion Conference was held in the Parliament Buildings, Wellington, oh September 27. Your Board was represented by the chairman (Mr Claxton), Mr Gauvain, and the manager. A copy of the proposed Amended Act was received, and after perusal it was found that the representation Of the Board would be altered, and the chairman instructed me to communicate with each member, asking for their views on any alteration of representation, so that the necessary action could be taken with regard to opposing same. The date of election of members has now been provided for in the amended Act, which, how defines that the election takes place ip May, 1922. There is a copy of the Minister’s speech lying mi the table for any member’s perusal, and I would like to stress one point made by the Minister, “that it is essential for power boards to consider where to erect their, lines, and Only erect where payable revenue is assured.” This endorses the policy which your board has adopted since its inception. Pales.—The “Wanganui” arrived and was discharged during the month, There werehlS poles short against documents, being 30 feets, which we were in need ofl. The "Lindstol” has sailed with a further shipment, and should arrive within the next three weeks. This will give satisfactory supplies of joples to carry oh with.

Copper Wire.—lmmediate supplies pf all sizes of copper wire have arrived during the month. Putaruru and Tirauj—l would suggest a permanent man being stationed at Putaruru now that portion, 'has beep reticulated. It would be necessary for whoever is-appointed to be. a competent wineman, in order to be kept fully employed. This man could control as for as Titan district. The same provision will have to be made on the Hauraki Plains. ■ ENGINEERS’ REPORT.

Thames section. —Poling has been completed to the Thames sub-station $ Parawai and the transformer structure erected and base concreted. Tiift wiring of. the main double circuit 11,000-vole Hne from Wharepou through Matatoki to Thames has

started. Sub-maining of the Wiiarepoa block has been completed. Hauraki Plains Sectino.—The river crossing at Puke has been dredged by the Public Works Departmeht, enabling us to lay the two II.OW-volt submarine cables for connecting up the Hauraki Plains area. The joints on both cables have been made and satisfactorily tested, and power is now being supplied through one cable, the line being alive as far. as Turua. The 11,000 L volt double circuit Mho has been, wired complete to the Ngatea junction; also the single 11,000vole circui.t to Ngatea butter factory, to Kerepeehi, and along the Kopua-rahi-Turua road.

Poling has been completed along Pekapeka Road, and it is hoped to have power on within 1 about one month. Awaiti Road has been poled for about one and a half miles. This work will be continued: when more large poles arrivk The gang has been transferred to Huirau Road, and this section is about half finished. The low-tension wiring oh the main line poles has been completed from Puke through! Netherton to Pekapeka Road; also from Wharepoa corner right through to Turua and including Turua township. Transformers -have been erected at Lauglilan’s (Nethertoh), Carter’s corner, Huirau corner, and Turua. .

Tatuanui.— Noj 4' Road and Manhue Road have been completely poled, representing 2% miles of line. On Maungakawa Road,. Waihou, two nflles of 30ft poles have been erected. A start has now been made on Grattan Road, Herriesville,

Cousins Road, Tatuanui—The 3300volt circuit, three miles long, has been .wired, also three stretches pf low-tension, served from three transformers, have been completed. The whole line was put into service on September. 23. Whakahohgi Roadt—The wiring gang is now working on this road, and.has completed about one mile of the 3300‘-volt circuit to date.

Seddoh Road and Chudley Road.— The wiring of the 33004v01t line on Seddon Road has been completed, and was put into commission on Septembber 29. One and a half miles of L.T. wire was put into service on October 8. Te Aroha West.-Manawaru.—The H.T. circuit and telephone circuit are now wired up to the School Road, Manawaru.

Waharoa-Waitoa Section.—About 11% miles of this main 11,000-volt line has been poled, leaving about two miles to complete the cppnection. Waharoa. —The low-tension wiring has been completed. Peria Section.—The 3300-volt extension down Station Road is practically completed. Hinuera Valley.—A ll,OTOMw>lt transformer has been erected at Vesper’s and low-tension supply connected up. Low-tension extensions, have been made from Penititp transformer, and also from Hopkins’ corner transformer,.

Mauhgatautari Section- —Crossarining of the Public Works Department’.". 11,000-volt poles to enable the Board’s Tino to be run On same has been fin-' ished, and. the wiring on Middletown’s section completed. Wiping is now proceeding on McVicar’s section. Te Pot Section.—-The 3300-volt line from Te Ppi factory along Matamata and Taiheu Roads has been completed, and was made alive On October 2. The low-tension line oh Taiheu Road EpSt is practically completed.

Tirau - Putaruru Section.—-The extensions east and west from the Tau-i mangi transformer are poles and wiring is now beipg carried out. The subonains in Putaruru township are nearly finished.

Power Boards Conference. —A meeting of the South Auckland Power Boards League was held in Hamiltion on September 15, the Board being represented by the chairman, the manager, and Messrs Gauvaln and McLeod. A large number of remits were discussed and brought forward for the Power Boards Conference.

The Power Boards Conference was held at Wellington on September 27, the Board being represented by tihe chairman, the manager, and Mr Gauvain. The conference was’ presided over by the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works, who was supported by the Chief Engineer and the Chief Electrical Engineer. A large number of points in connection with the amendment to the Power Boards Act were discussed.

On September 28 the engineers of the various power boards met the Chief Engineer, the Chief Electrical Engineer, and the Chief Telegraph Engineer and the Railway Signal Engineer.' Various technical matters ■were brought up for discussion, and a remit from the Board asking for a modification in railway crossings was approved. This will, effect a saving of from £lO to £l2 per crossing on double circuit 11,000-yclt lines.