ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4559, 4 May 1923, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was held at the Board’s office, Te Arena, on Tuesday. Present: Messis F. H. Claxton (chairman), J. C. Miller, J. Pohlen, J. McCormick, J. Price, J. W. Anderson, J. B. Thomas, J. Bell, C. A. Arthur, P. Grace, G. Howie, and the manager-secretary, Mr R. Sprague. The consulting engineers, Messrs Gauvain and McLeod, were also in attendance. The chairman welcomed Mr Q. Howie, the representative of the Morrinsville Borough, who had just recently been appointed. Mr Howie briefly acknowledged the Board’s greeting. He said it was the first time Morrinsville had had direct representation oi) the Board. He also thanked Mr J. Price for the services rendered by him to Morrinsville Borough whilst acting as representative of the Matamata-Morrinsville area. BOROUGH OF PAEROA. The Town Clerk, Paeroa, advised the Board that. Mr F. E. Flatt had been duly elected as the representative on the Power Board for the Borough of Paeroa. . . < AGENCY AT WAIKINO. J. M. Pivac, of Waikino, wrote with reference to the installation of power throughout the township of Waikino, and applied for the agency of the Board. , The chairman said it was liot intended to establish a depot at Waikino meantime. RETICULATION. ■ 1 G. B. Ward, Waharoa, wrote Inquiring when Waghorn’s Roftd would be reticulated. The engineer said that, the poles were now on the road, and would die ready to connect in time for the coming season. ARRIVAL OF SPINDLES. Messrs A. D. Riley and Co., Ltd., of Auckland, wrote advising that thev w=.rc forwarding 800 galvanised H.T. spindles, which had arrived by the Waiwcra. —Received. COST OF POWER. C J. Bedford, Turua, v. rote contending that, it was far more economical for him to use petrol under the present, way . of charging for electricity. He used very little power, nut sufficient to reach the minimum rate, which he was told nothing about. The chapman said that Mr, Bedford had been put on the restricted hours se;\ice, after which he would be charged through a meter. Therefore, he would only be paying for the power actually used by him. “As I have pointed out before,” wrote Mr K. W. Dalyrimple, of Bulls, when writing of installation of power on his farm on Alexandra Road, “you do not encourage the man whp keens good cows, as you charge him more only because he has better cows.” Mr Anderson contended that if the writei had good cows he could afford to pay. The chairman said that Mr Daly rimple had not, been charged in excess in any way. BREAKDOWN ON PLAINS. Mr Warner wrote in regard to the breakduwn at the transformer, Piako Road, and stated that although this happened at 10 o’clock cn Sunday morning he was not advised until Monday afternoon, and with the present telephone service it, was impossible for him to be advised earlier. He considered it advisable that a high tension phone from Ngatea to Paeri a should be installed. The chairman said that the matter had been gone into by the manager, and thp Board was endeavouring to arrange for an all-night service t.o Turua and Ngatea. SUPPLY OF TRANSFORMER, The engineers intimated that they had accepted the tender of Turnbull and Jones for the supply of a transformer. The firm had guaranteed delivery on May 31. The cist of the transformer was not to exceed the sum of £1417 10s. The action of the engineers in accepting the tender was confirmed. EXTRA “CUTOUTS.” Mr J. Price asked if it WQtild not be advisable toi. have a further “cutout” between Paeroa: and Te Arolia. The ’ engineer said that provision had already been made to have sufficie.nt switches installed.’ “Cutouts” were now operative from either Herriejmlle or Tirohia. This system of extra “ cutouts ” had worked most successfully during t,he recent floods. Mr Price said he thought that as many of the members as possible should concentrate. in Te Aroha during the next storm and flood. They could then form some idea of the amount of work done and the trials undergone by the Board’s staff during a gale. The time was most strenuous. FELICITATIONS. The chairman expressed his regret that the present meeting would be the last one that Messrs Bell and Miller would attend. He said that both members had been live and energetic members for their respective disticts, and he felt sure that the Board would be very sorry to lose them. They were quite unobstrusive workers, and had won the esteem of their colleagues. Mr Miller briefly thanked the chairman for his kind remarks. He stated that he had received every consideration and help from the chairman and members of the Board, and he was most grateful for the assistance accorded to his district. He was not seeking re-electipp because he considered the position should go round, and he trusted that the Board would extend the same courtesy and help to his successor. He sincerely hoped that for the benefit of the Board, as well as the consumers, the work of hydro-electricity would be steadfastly pushed ahead. Mr Miller concluded by expressing his appreciation of the work done by Mr Sprague and his- staff. Mr Bell also responded in a similar strain. MEETINGS. It was decided to hold the annual

and the ordinary meetings on May 24, and that the June meeting be cancelled. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £8054 14s 7d were passed for payment. NGATAIPUA ROAD. A. K. Warner, of Ngatea, advised that Ngataipua Road, Turua, had been canvassed. It was decided to erect the line as soon as material is available. STRIKING OF RATES. The Public Works Department wrote asking if a general rate was levied by the Board for the year ending March 31, 1923, amount of such rate, amount collected, and whethei any other rates were struck or collected, and the purpose for which they were collected. The chairman replied that a rate so far had not, been levied. SPECIAL MEETING. Immediately after the ordinary meeting a special meeting was held. A motion was passed rescinding former resolutions for the issuing of £30,000 worth of debentures, which was a portion of the original loan of £200,000. A further motion was passed authorising the issue of debentures for £lOO,OOO, £25,000 with the Bank of New Zealand and £75,000 with the A.M.P. Society, making up the balance of the £200,000 loan.