POWER BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4696, 9 May 1924, Page 4

POWER BOARD.

MANAGER’S REPORT. The manager’s report was read as follows at last Tuesday’s meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board ;— The scow Theriault arrived at Kopu on April 5 and commenced discharging on April 7. Owing to the Easter holidays itervening, it was the 26th before the poles wore all dissharged. However, there were ample poles at the different dumps previous to the railway strike, and the Board did not. suffer any interruption whatever. EASTER SHUTDOWN. At tlie conference of the South Auckland Power Boards’ League, held at Hamilton mi April 15, the Dintl’icl Engiuewr advised the meeting that the times had been altered from 7 mm. to 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. io 4.30 pan., in which was a gain of half an hour mi the original arrangements, am! Ilri boat'll is now advised ihnl im further .shutdown other than the Easter shill - down will be necessary. t would like to bring under you-' notice the assistance given by the To Aroha borough during the shutdown in feeding back 80-h.p. load from (heir own plant to the board’s mtiliin id-mid-day. Owing to the fact tilth the load then on the lines was too grea! for the Waitoa dried milk factory on account of requiring extra power for charging electric trucks, we would have been unable to give any supply after noon until llorahora switched in at 4.30 p.m. 1 would suggest I ha. the borough be thanked lor the assistance. THE CONFERENCE. At the League’s confei'cnce id. HtuniJtnn Mr Claxton presided, and the board was also represented by the engineer and manager. The matter of the operation of the non-consumers’ rate was very fully discussed, and it was unanimously re solved that the executive of the Power Boards’ Association be written to suggesting an amendment to the Act, making the minimum rate 5s in lieu of £l, as now operating, and that Mr Claxton, who is a member of the executive, bring the matter before it. Mr Claxton also brought forward tlie matter of price of power to tie charged by the Department v.hen Arapuni is generating, and the meeting resolved that the Minister be written to on tlie subject. NON-CONSUMERS’ RATE. The rate book for the collecting of the non-consumers’ rate is now being compiled, and the necessary information for striking the rate will be placed before you at an early date. COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS. Arrangements have now Deen maf-3 for electrical cooking demonstrations to be held in the several towns in

the board’s area aS follows : Thames, Monday, May 13; Paeroa. Tuesday, May 13; Morrinsvilie, Wednesday, May 14 ; Matamata. Thursday. May 15 ; Te Aroha, Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17. Users of electricity are being notified by circular of these demonstrations. TIMBER FOR POLES.' The committee appointed to go into the matter of hardwood timbers f.o' polos met on April 10 at 8 P.m. Different timbers and preservatives were fully gone into, and expert opinions will) regard to treatment -jf poles was laid before (lie committee, and it was decided to wait upon Mr Reynolds, of Cambtldge. and obtain from him data witli legat'd tn New Zealand-grown hardwood limbers, and also obtain a quantity of poles for experimental imrpo.es. it has now been found impossible Io avail ourselves of Mr Revmdd'.'i services, and arrangements are mm being made with Mr Goutlie, or the Ftireslry Department, after which n furlher report will he pn-sonted •<’ you. Mr Slrnnge generously offered a portion of his land for the orcctioi of hiudwood and N.Z. limbers for experlmenln! purposes, and the committee recommends acceptance of same. CONSUMERS. Slxly-llve lint rate ami six met.'-r ride consumers wore connected during the month, together with 23 farmer’s motors. The total number of consumers connected to April 30 is 40H3, which includes the boroughs of Thames ami Te Aroha and 873 farmer's motors. Then- are also 23'1 motors on meter connected.