POWER BOARD GANGS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4747, 5 September 1924, Page 1

POWER BOARD GANGS.

REPORT ON PRESENT SYSTEM. ENGINEERS AGAINST ALTERATION At the meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board on Tuesday last the following report was submitted by the engineers, Messrs Gauvain and McLeod : ‘‘ln accordance with the request that we should advise the Board as to the advisability or otherwise of increasing the gangs oh the various sections in the Board’s area, the matter has been fully considered since the -last meeting and we beg to report as follows : “For the purpose of constructional work the district at present is divided up into three sections operating from the following depots: Paeroa, Te Aroha, and Matamata, Paeroa Section.—-A main line gang is now carrying out constructional work between Ngatea, Pipiroa, and Waitakaruru, and should complete both the main line and service connection in about eight weeks. On the completion of this work these men will be moved to the Ngatea-Kaihere section. “In addition to the above "some four men are engaged on transformer and service connection work in various parts. These men will be moved to Waihi, and with the addition of another four men will start the reticulation of Waihi as soon ais the poles are delivered into the borough. The schooner with a supply of these poles is expected at any time. Te Aroha Section. —These gangs are engaged on this section as follo.ws: No. 1 gang on Maungateparu back road, and on completion of that work in from six to eight weeks’ time, will be moved to the Tahuna section. Number 2 gang is engaged in Mbrrinsville town and surrounding districts, chiefly on branch lines and service connections. They .should complete this work in about six weeks, and then will work in co-operation with No. 1 gang.

“Number 3 gang is at present engaged ojn services, and will shortly be removed to Manawaru, and then to Waiorongomai, and all this work should be completed in eight or ten weeks. They will then be engaged on extensions in that area. “Four gangs are in operation in the Matamata section. Number 1 gang is at present engaged on Mortenson’s Road,' and upon completion of this will be moved to Te Papa Road. Number 2 gang is engaged on branch lines in the vicinity of Waharpa, and will be moved to Wardville Road as soon as the necessary poise come to hand, after which Weeks’ Road will be done. When this work is completed the gang will be moved to the Puketurua section. Number 3 gang is engaged on services and short extensions round Matamata, and will be pl.aced upon the Okoroire-Cambridge Road work as soon as the necessary polep come to hand, after which it will augment No. 1 gang on Te Papa Road. “Number 4 gang is employed upon services in.the Te Poi section. It will be kept on services and general maintenance. RECOMMENDATIONS. "Taking all points into consideration, we do not recommend that any further gangs be established. The work in sight at the present time, apart from the Patetonga section, should be completed within about six months, with possibly the addition of a few extra men, who would be taken on if required. The inauguration of further gangs at the present stage of operations is not warranted, as each new gang necessitates further expenditure in transport and tools, quite apart from the extra expense incurred in breaking in such gangs. Whilst it is necessary to push on with the erection of the lines which have been authorised, the fact must rot be lost sight-of that it is more profitable to the Board to connect services on lines that' are already in operation, and these can be handled with our existing o’ganisation. "We would point out that the policy of loaning engines to prospective consumers. so that they are not put to the expense of purchasing new engines, provides power to these consumers, and they are not placed under any great disability because the lines are not yet there, and this policy allows the z ßoard to make the most extensive and best use of its existing organisation.” Mr Flatt said., that he considered the report was very satisfactory and decidedly helpful to ; the board members, and he urged that a, similar report be submitted quarterly, with the additional information of what material was available. In answer to Mr-Howie the manager slated that there were about one hundred and fifty employees. The report was adopted. ALLOCATION OF POLES.

It was decided that poles to arrive by the Louis Theriault would be erect ed on the following sections: Mortensen?s Road, 2 miles 30 chains, 40 30ft poles and 20 24ft poles; Wardville Road, 5 miles, 6 30ft poles and 50 24ft poles ; Miklin’s extension, Putarur.u, 40 chains, 8 30ft poles and 20 24ft poles; Hetherington’s extension, Tirau, 1 mile, 32 30'ft and 25 24ft poles ; Mangateparu back road, 1 mile additional, 30 30ft poles ; Waiorongomai, 70 chains, 28 30ft and 50 24ft poles ;

School Road, Manawarua, 18 chains, 8 30ft poles; Tauhei back road, o: swamp road, 1 mile 40 chains, 35 30ft and 50 24ft poles ; Dodd’s Road, Morriibsville, 18 chains, 8 30ft poles Mangateparu, Tahuna, 7 miles 40 chains, 130 35ft and 50 24ft poles; Waihi Borough,. 2 miles 20. chains, 44 35ft and 58 30ft poles; Ngatea-Wai-

takaru.ru, 4 miles 40 chanis to complete, 76 35ft, 40 30ft, and 50 24ft poles. Total poles : 250 35ft, 293 30ft, 315 24ft poles; balance of 24ft poles over, 207 ; arriving via Auckland for Wardville Road, 150. Additional lines authorised were Weeks’ Road, 2 miles 40 chains, 98 30'ft and 30 24 ft poles; Okoroire, Hinuera Valley, 1 mile 60 chains, 45 30'ft and 20 24ft poles ; Puketurla, 6 miles, 30 35ft, 120 30ft, and 50 24ft poleis ; Te Papa, 5 miles 40 chains, 105 35ft, *6O 30ft, and 60' 24ft poles. The total poles for these lines were: 135 35ft, 323 30ft, and 170 24ft poles, one 35ft and 30ft poles to be otbained via Auckland The balance of poles required were. Waihi Borough, 16 40ft poles; Manga-teparu-Tahuna. , 30 miles, 645 35ft, 240 30ft, and 340 24ft poles. Amount ordered for next shipment: 16 40ft, 755 35ft, 240 30ft, and 340 1 24ft poles.