ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4597, 5 September 1923, Page 2

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board was held in Te Aroha yesterday, there being present: Messrs F. H. Claxton (chairman), F. E. Flatt, J. Howie, J. Pricey J. Pohlen., J. W. Anderson, J. B. Thomas, F. M. Strange, C. A- Arthur, W. El G. Willy, and P. Grace. Mr R. Sprague, secretary-manager, and Messrs Gauvani and McLeod, engineers, were also in attendance. REMUNERATION OF CHAIRMAN. The Assistant Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department advised that the Minister had approved of the payment of the sum of £250 per annum fpi- the remuneration of the chairman. —Received. TELEGRAPH CROSSINGS. The Chief Electrical Engineer if the Public Works Department wrote asking for an interpretation of the following remit, which was passed at the recent conference of power boards :— “That after a telegraph crossing has been completed to the satisfaction of the Telegraph Department and paid for by the board, any further expenses should he the liability of the Telegraph Department.” The chairman informed the meeting t t hat the information had been supplied. KEREPEEHI TELEPHONE. The postmistress of Kerepeehi wrote on behalf of the residents asking if the Board could see its way to grant permission tp erect private telephones to connect with the Kerepeehi office. The Board granted permission provided that; its lines were not interfered with. POWER FOR OKOROIRE. A petition signed by fifteen settlers of the Okoroire district asked the Board to expedite the supply of power for that district. The petition pointed put t.hat the roads in the.district were now in good order and the .settlers were very anxious to have poorer for the coming dairying season. Disappointment jvas expressed at the manner in which the Board had delayed the work in the district. Mr Anderson said that he thought the settlers had grounds for complaint. A blunder had been made. Mr McLeod said that the delay had been caused by the Board’s inability tp secure suitable poles The work would be proceeded with as soon as practicable. ORCHARD EAST ROAD. Mr Willy asked what was the position on the’Orchard East Road area. Mr McLeod said that the ground had been too wet to permit of the poles being erected,, and in consequence the gang had been sent up to work in the Waikino area. The Orchard East Road area would be completed as early as possible. A ’fair supply of poles had recently been received at the Horahia wharf, and it was hoped that operations woul.l be resumed in about a month’s time. PORTABLE ’PHONES. Mr Willy’ asked if anything had been done in connection with the installation of switch gear at the Puke. Mr Gauvain replied that up to the present nothing further had been done in that connection. The Board was now in communication with an English firm for the supply of telephones. Portable telephones were not' procurable in New Zealand. It was hoped to establish a permanent telephone and hut at the Puke in the future. DAMAGE TO INSULATORS. The chairman said thai a great deal of damage had been done to the insulators on the Paeroa-Wajkino line, 'and it was proposed to cilose down the power on Sunday next to repair the damage done. It was agreed to offer a sum of £lO as a reward to anyone giving information leading to the conviction of a person damaging the Board’s property. Mr Flatt suggested that canvas notices should be printed and posted up on the poles in prominent places, as road junctions. Mr Pohlen said that he believed the damage was caused by pea-rifles. ELECTRIC PLOUGHING. “Electric ploughing is a subject we have been interested in for many years,” wrote the Chief Electrical Engineer of the Public Works- Department. “Various trials have been made. I enclose details of one that appears to be quite successful. lam writing to the A.S.E.A. Company, in Swcdejn, ■ for details of cost of apparatus. Might I suggest that your Board should join in an experiment by offering free power for three years to each of the first three farmers who introduce electric power for ploughing? This would -cost, you practically nothing, and would be a great stimulus to a triad being made.” The chairman said that he thought the project was worth considering. Mr Price considered that charging stations would have to be erected. The matter was deferre 1 pending a report from the engineers. CHANGE OF BOUNDARIES. The Public Works Department ’n acknowledging the Board’s application for a portion of the Thames Valley district to be included in the Cambridge district stated that the description was . insufficient for gazetting purposes, immediately such a description came to hand the proclamation would be issued.—Received. The secretary of the Cambridge Electric Power Board made formal application for an instalment of £3OOO of amount agreed upon between the two boards in connection with the transfer of Karapiro territory to the Cambridge board’s district. The contractors for the reticulation of the area in question were about to commence work, and it was anticipated that the amount would be required immediately work was put in hand, x'The chairman intimated that the Order-in-Council authorising the transfer of territory had not yet been made. It was agreed to pay the sum as [' soon as ajithority was received.

CANVASS ASKED FOR. Mr E. J. Darby,, president of the Puketurua Development League, wrote asking the probable date of the canvassing in the district in connection with reticulation from Mr Washer had kindly consented to allow the canvasser to reside at hia place during the period of the canvass, and the writer would see that a horse was procurable at Puketurua. The writer was particularly anxious to prevent unnecessary installation of oil engines with the attendant disabilities when the change over to motors was made and to be prepared by the time power was available. POWER BOARD LOANS. A Wellington firm of financial brokers, writing with a view to the increase in the income tax on local body debentures just enacted by Parliament, stated that they thought it was advisable to intimate that their offer to place loans for power boards at 5% per cent, for 36% years would not be affected by this legislation, and money was still available at the rate stated.—Received. INFORMATION SOUGHT. A le't.tei from the general secretary, Nymborda Hydro-Electricity Commit; tee, Graftoil, N.S.W., read : “A county council has been formed here comprising three municipalities and three shires which has undertaken the installation of a 1800-h.p. electric scheme to serve the Clarence River district. This is the first attempt to generate electricity by water power on such a scale in Australia, and this public committee has been formed to assist the county in. publicity work.” The writer asked for any information the hoard might, be able to give. Information to be supplied. VOTING POWER OF BOARD. Mr WiUy. proposed that as the Board o.wnied property on the Hauraki Plains authority should he given to either the manager or chairman to exorcise a vote in all county affaire. Mr Flatt said that a general authority should be given so as to cover the Board’s property in all Its areas. The chairman said that such authority could only be given by a resolution of the Board. Mr Anderson said that he strongly objected to the proposal. He consilered ft, wrong in principle. Mr Pohlen said he would second the proposal provided it was confined only to the Hauraki Plains area. Mr Price was of the opinion that each representative should be given the Board’s authority to vote on district matters. Mr Anderson asked what, woull happen where there was,' more than one member. Mr Willy considered that the Board should exercise its full voting powers. He would ask that the Board on this occasion support the machinery and roads loan 'proposals on the Hauraki Plains which were to be submitted to the ratepayers: at an early date. Mr Howie said thalt, he did not think anyone should be instructed how to vote. After further discussion the resolution was put, and was lost on the show of hands. HEATING AND LIGHTING POWER. A committee, consisting of Mr Price, the. engineers, and the manager, recommended : “(1) That time switches be installed at the cost of the owner on all motors of 15 h.p. and upwards, other than dairy companies, in outside areas: or in the country; (2) that farmers who are not using milking motors shall he charged for lighting and heating 50 per cent.' over and above the present lighting and heating flat, rate charges. The recommendations were, adopted without dissent. REDUCTION ASKED FOR. H. C. Luke, Turua.. wrote asking that a reduction be made in the cost of current, as the rate worked out very expensive for small consumers, and certainly favoured the larger consumer. The manager reported tjiat he had advised the writer that atl xhe present time there was no prospect of the charges being reduced.