ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4550, 13 April 1923, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of th? Thames Valley Electric Power Board was held at the Board’s offices, Te Aroha, on Tuesday. Present: Messrs F. H. Claxton (chairman), F. E. Flatt, J. C. Miller, J. Pohlen, J. McCormick, J. Price, J. W. Anderson, J. B. Thomas, J. Bell, C. A. Arthur, A. RRobinson, P. Grace, and the managersecretary, Mr R. Sprague. The consulting engineers, Messrs Gauvain and McLeod, were also in attendance. WHAREPOA METAL DUMP. The Hauraki Plains County engineer (Mr J. Higgins) wrote asking the Board to expedite the construction of the electric light line to Netherton and Wharepoa metal dump. The engineers advised that th? lines were practically ready for the power. ORDER FOR CABLE. Richardson, McCabe, and Co. advised that the Board’s order for 20 miles of 1.044 cable was due to come forward by the Westmeath, and would be immediately forwarded to To Aroha. SUPPLY OF POLES. W. Archibald and Co., Auckland, advised that they were in a position to supply poles in any quantity. The poles were already drawn, and could be shipped promptly. The firm ad-vised-that they could obtain a charter of a steamer with a 600 or 800-pole capacity, and if an order was placed for poles they anticipated being able to land them at Kopu towards the end of June. —Received. TROUBLEMAN AT TURUA. The Turua Ratepayers’ Association asked if the Board could see its wav clear to station a troubleman permanently at Turua. In support of the request the association stated that there was a large area in Turua, and with the power established and the telephone service working the service would extend into Netherton, Kerepeehi, and Ngatea, down to Kopuarahi and Orpngo. The chairman said it was impossible to station a man in every township. The Board’s depot was now at Ngatea, and it was considered thax Ngatea was the most accessible point, taking everything into consideration, to station a troubleman. Mr Miller said that the telephone service at Ngatea was not so satisfactory as at Turua. The chairman said that the Board was prepared to go into the question of arranging for a continuous telephone service to the troubleman’s house. It was impossible to .station a man in all settlements. The Board had to centralise at Ngatea,. and he considered that Turua and Kerepeehi could quite easily be worked from Ngatea, provided that satisfactory telephone arrangements could bu made. Mr Arthur said he considered that the consumers of power in the outlying districts should be given every facility to make their wants and complaints promptly known, and he moved that the engineers, should be asked to report fully on the position of telephones and services.—Seconded by Mr Flatt and carried. The chairman remarked that the complete linking up by telephone of the Board’s troublemen would have to be faced.

CHURCH LIGHT. The Rev. F. B. Dobson, Paeroa. acknowledged the Board’s intention to erect a line to supply light to the church at Turua at a minimum cost of £4 a year. A request was made that the charge revert to £3 a year as other people linked up and took power. POWER FOR WAITAKARURU. The secretary of the Waitakaruru Dairy Farmers’ Union asked the Board to arrange for power to be taken across the Piako River to Pipiroa and thence to Waitakaruru as soon as possible, as a large number of farmers were anxiously 'waiting to be linked up. The Pipiroa branch of the Dairy Farmers’ Ujnion also requested the Board to link up the Waitakaruru and Pipiroa districts. The chairman said the Board regretted that it was unable to grant the request immediately, as there was a gre.it deal of work to be done between the two rivers that had to oe cleaned up first. The engineers had the matter in hand, and the work would be done as soon as practicable. DEPUTATIONS. After discussing a letter to the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association it was agreed that when receiving deputations the Board would hear deputations’ requests, but would not permit further discussion with them, so as to save the time of the Board. CHARTER OF THE LINDSTOL. A C. Brown, of Newcastle, wrote advising the Board that he had been able to charter the barquentine Lindstol to load poles in Australia, and the Board could expect delivery of them in about seven weeks’ time. The firm also advised that 250 24ft poles were being shipped by steamer due to arrive in three weeks’ time. — Received. CHARGES FOR CURRENT. The Hon. j. G. Coates informed the Board that its resolution protesting against the charge made by the Department for current supplied to the Board, and that the present system of charges to smaller boards be abolished, had been noted, and would receive consideration. EXTENSION OF POWER. The Public Works Department, replying to the Board’s letter regarding the maximum load for the board, advised that it had already been noted that this was already 1200 k.v.a., as compared with 900 k.v.a. provided for in the contract. “Tn view of the extension now in hand at Horahora," the letter continued, “by which the plant capacity .-will be increased by 4'oo k.w., if is not desired to restrict the supply to your board. In fact, it is desirable to build up the load as

much as possible in advance in anticipation of Arapuni power coming in later on, and I am prepared to increase the allocation to your board from 900 to 150*0 k.v.a., and from the date of completion of the extensions now in hand at Horahora.”—Received. POWER FOR PUTARURU. The Putaruru District Development Board wrote reminding the Power Board that the long-promised canvass of the district was still awaited. A canvasser had made his appeaarnce, but at that time had only called on one or two of the settlers. It would be both disconcerting and disheartening to have to face a possibility of still another, dairying season without power. The Development Board hoped that the installation required would be carried out by the end of the winter. A price for a light oil the Putaruru railway station was also asked for. It was decided that a further canvass of the district should be made forthwith. BALL RACES FOR MOTORS. The English Electric Company, Wellington, acknowledged leceipt of an order, dated March 14, for ball races required for the 2B horse-power motors. Arrangements were being made to have these despatched from their works at the earliest possible date. REPRESENTATION ON BOARD. Referring to the Board’s letters of February 9 and 20, the Hauraki Plains County Council asked if the opinion referred to meant that all electors was to be taken to mean all residents in the county, or all electors. as defined by the Counties Ac-, or. in other words, ratepayers. The secretary was instructed to supply the information. TRANSMISSION LINES. The Board’s engineers ,Messi’s Gauvain and McLeod, forwarded copies of plans of transmission lines for the following sections: Matamata Town District, Paeroa Borough... Morrinsville Borough, Walton - Kiwitahi - Ngarus roads, Paeroa-TeAroha subsidiary lines, Waiomo Road, Te Poi and Davis Road. CANVASS OF WAIKINO. Mr P. Grace asked if the canvass of Waikino bad been completed. If so, he would recommend that the Board proceed with the reticulation pf che township. Mr McLeod, engineer, said that the canvass had been fairly satisfactory. The chairman said that he was pleased to be able to state that the reticulation of Waikino would be carried out as soon as possible.