ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4609, 3 October 1923, Page 2

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was held at Te Arolia yesterday. Present : Messrs F. E. Flatt (actingchairman), P. Grace, F. M. Strange, J. W, Anderson, G. Howie, J. Pohlen, J. Price, J. B. Thomas, C. A. Arthur, W. E, G. Willy, J. W. McCormick, R. Sprague (secretary-manager), and Gauvain and McLeod (engineers to the Board). LOAN MONEY. The Government Life Insurance Department wrote in connection with the £500,000 loan, authority for whch had been obtained by the Board, and advised that it had funds available for loans to electric power boards^—Received. The Australian Mutual provident Society advised that the Bpard was committed to take the first instalment of £lO,OOO of the £75,000 on October 1. —lt was decided to lift the £lO,OOO. FACTORY INSTALLATION. The secretary of the Norfolk Dairy Co., Motumaoho, wrote inquiring when the electric power was to be installed as lighting was urgently required for the night shift, which would be starting almost, immediately. The manager said that the work would be completed as soon as a supply of transformers was received, probably in about a fortnight’s time. OBJECTION TO CHARGES. “I observe that it is the intention of your Board to charge farmers for lighting purposes fifty per cent. aty>ve those farmers who use a motor to run their milking plant,” wrote Mr F. W. Howard, Manawaru. “Personally, at the preseifi, price of power I have no intention of installing a motor for milking.” In cancelling his order for the installation of a motor he added: “ I do not like this way ofrubbing it in.’ Just because one fanner runs a motor he is .to get his house lighted considerably cheaper than his neighbours.” The letter was received and the cancellation for installation accepted. CARRIAGE OF POLES. The Electric Power Boards’ Association wrote enclosing a copy of a letter from the General Manager of Railways to the Chief Electrical Engineer pointing out that the policy of the Railway Department has been to charge a lower rate of freight for conveyance of local than imported products, thus enabling railways to be. used in the direction of developing the natural resources of the Dominion. The letter also pointed but that hardwood timber was much heavier than New Zealand grown timber, and, therefore, a smaller quantity was loaded into each waggon. The measurement of poles for railage purposes was worked out on Hoffers’ table for round logs, this being considerably less for round logs in superficial feet t,han the actual contents. Round logs actually contained about 29 per cent, more timber than was shown in the table, so power boards were not called upon to pay for the full measurement railed, Therefore any reduction in the rates for electric poles could not be agreed to. , The manager said that the matter referred to applied chiefly to power boards that had a great distance to cart poles. The chairman was of the opinion the the principle was wrong. Mr J. Price moved that the Power Board should urge the Government. I to keep the matter before it, with a view to having a • reduction made. Seconded by Mr Howie and carried. TENDERERS’ CLAUSE. The Southland Electric Power Board wrote asking if the local board would advise if it raised any objection, or whether it thought the following clause, which was used by tenderers, was fair and reasonable ‘. “Contracts are subject to strikes, accidents, and contingencies beyond our control.” Mr Gauvain said that the clause was quite reasonable and usual. It was decided that the manager should write and point out the Board’s views on the matter. DONATION REQUESTED. The Town Clerk, Paeroa, wrote to the Board pointing out that'the local fire brigade was in uijgent need of funds, and as the leading business and commercial institutions had in the past made grants, it would be deemed a favour if the Board could sec its way clear to make a donation. The chairman said he thought that the request was reasonable, in view of the good save made by the brigade at the time of the old bakehouse fire. After some discussion it was moved by Mr Grace, seconded by Mr Howie, that the Board regretted that it was unable to make a donation at the present time. POWER FOR' FLAXMILL. J. Stewart, of the Department, of Agriculture, Auckland, wrote inquiring if sufficient electric power would be available in the Patetonga district to drive one or t,wo flax strippers. The Board was also asked to supply the cost of the motor and installation of same.—lnformation to be supplied. ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS. Messrs Cory, Wright, and Salmon wrote expressing regret that their quote for* Parkinson motors had not been accepted, and asked for some information regarding prices in competition, as they were surprised that their quotation could be beaten as regards value for the money. The firm in question also lodged a mild protest against the policy of the Board in accepting a foreign motor when British manufacturers were doing their very beat to supply a good machine at the lowest possible price. They suggested that a British ma-' chine would give better value, despite the fact that the price might be slightly higher. The manager said that the firm in question had the agency for Swiss makers of motors also, so they were not wholly British ; also* there was a big difference in the firm’s quotation for motors. The manager reported hiving written the following letter in reply:

"In reference to your lodging a protest, i wish tp point out to yottJMt/' the Board members conduct theiriow . policy, and are not in the habit-’OU going outside their executive for life formation and advice with regard tor price and quality. The position is, ? we have a duty t,o our ratepayer, and if a British-made article cannot com-’ pete with other makes, that is a mat; ■ ter for the British manufacturers pnd no doubt yourselves as agents,” POWER BOARDS ACT, The chief Electrical Engineer, Public works Department, in"forwarding a copy of the new Electric Power Boards Amendment Act asked for formation as to how clause 4 in practice, and stated that in rating under that clause it would not be necessary to define any restricted area, as the new rate could only be collected when mains were within tea chains of the property, so that the rate could be levied over the whole area and collected pnly from those to whom a supply was available. The Department hoped that the Board would be able to carry on this without any rate at all, in which cas? these questions would not arise.—Re-, cieved. STOPPAGE OF POWER. S. H. Judd, Horahora, wrote for an explanation why the power had been cut off on several occasions.and no notification being given. A, W. Wrigley, the Board’s. em-| ployee at Matamata, and to. whom, the letter was referred, stated that when a consumer was connected to a system which was ..not comiflete it was jnot the Board's practice to notify him when the power was to be cut off during milking hours. When the system was complete a notice was posted in a conspicuous place for at" least two days whenever a shut-down was necessary. Regarding a complaint of fuses being blown out, it was stated that these fuses were capable of carrying 12 motors. No further action was taken by Board. POWER FOR WAITAKARURU. Mr Willy asked if the engineers cotfid given any indication as to when the settlers in Waitakaruru might?? expect, electric power. Mr Gauvain said that he was double ful if there would be much chanceU|f having power available in time fot the next season’s milking. The chairman said he thought that the Hauraki Plains had been fairly treated .in the past. The Board’s policy was to obtain the : maximum revenue from the minimum outlay it present. Work would be proceeded with in Waitakaruru without any undue delay. EXCHANGE ON CHEQUES. Mr Willy asked if the Board could arrange with the banks to forego the exchange on cheques, especially such cheques as were fo’rwarded by the. settlers in payment of their power accounts. The manager said that the banks would not, meet the-Board in tfie’* matter. ; SUPPLY, OF ELECTRICITY. The district engineer, Public Work?* Department’s Electoral Branch, wrote enclosing three copies of the agreement between the Board and the.-De-partment covering the supply of electricity to the Board at its third point of supply at the Waihou sub-station. The Department pointed out that.it would be necessary .to put the point of supply in operation for the next. quarter, and the Board was asked to expedite the completion of the agreement. The chairman and MJr ; - C. A. Arthur were authorised to sign the agreement. MAINTENANCE OF LINES. Mr J. Price said .that he thought, the time had come when should be relieved of the cost of the maintenance of lines where main lines were to gp, and the Board should adopt a- policy such as would be adopted in the erection of a low tension line. He did not think thatsetv tiers should be .penalised because main line was necessary,. and main; , tained that the cost should be share! by the district as a whole. Mr Thomas supported Mr Price. The chairman said he thought that the Board should indicate its policy generally, and he was prepared to accept a resolution. The following resolution was moved by Mr Price and seconded by Mr Thomas and carried: '"The Board wi’ll , supply an area provided the changes’" of construction for that area be guaranteed by the consumers. The provision for future extension will be met by the Board.” ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £20,966 were passed for paymerit. ELECTRIC PLOUGHING. In reply to a question by. Mr Thomas, with reference to electric ploughing, Mr Gauvain said that he was in communication with the Publie Works Department on the matter, and he hoped to be in a position submit a report at the next meeting of the Board. He was of the opinion that electric ploughing could be quite satisfactorily carried out on large 'tenets of land, but he did not think, that the use of power wpuld be any saving where a settler was farming j on a small scale. , -v*Said a gentleman in the building trade to a “Dunedin Star’’ representative after a recent visit to Central Otago: “I don’t suppose that in the last 20 years at least has there been anything to equal the amount of building now going on .-throughout Otago.” This enterprise in the country districts is a decidedly healthy sign. One of the inland centres where building is particularly in evidence is Roxburgh, which, in addition to current heeds, is looking ahead to the time when it, instead of Beaumont, will be a railway terminus. 0,. Smiling Byes I sweet smiling eyes! Their charm survives when beauty ■ dies— ■ ’ .. /S One happy glance speeds gloom Like sunshine on a winter's Bright eyes which greet ns with a smile Can even hardened heiu-ts beguile, They cheer the anguished to endure Like soothing Wpods’ Great Pepper-. mint cure.