POWER BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4822, 8 April 1925, Page 4

POWER BOARD.

THAMES VALLEY MEETING. WORK OF THE MONTH. The following statements were among those presented at the Thames Valley Electric Power Board meeting at Te Arolia yesterday :— MANAGER’S REPORT. Alterations in various canvasses have made the following roads now payable, and the necessary authorisations have been issued for the erection of same : Haur.aki Plains, Ngatea Kai here Road as far as Mr Slitclibury’it farm, within half a mile of Ka-here Landing on the Ngatea side. Thames district, Old and New M.aratoto Roads, Hikutaia. Piako district, Tabuna to Mr Silcock's farm ; one mile of the Tahuna-Paeroa road to Mr W.lUams, and connect from No. 8 Road down the dry ridge to Mr Barnett's.

Balance-sheet.—Notifications have been published in all the papers circulating in the district that copies of the board's balance-sheet can be perused at each of the board's depots.

Troublemen’s Houses.—The contractors have completed the houses nt. Paeroa anil Te Arolia, and they are now ready for occupation. The timber for the Tiraul and Ngatea lionises is now on the ground, and a start will be made before the end of the month.

On Marcli 23 five of the board’s huts were dsetroyed by fire at Waitakaruru. The fire started in No. 1 hut. nearest, to the canal, and owing to the wind being from that direction it was impossible to save the remaining four huts. The occupants had left the huts at 7 a.m., and the fire started about 3.45 p.m. There had never been a fire in No. 1 hut, and the origin of the outbreak is difficult to place.

The police were immediately notified, and Mr Willy and the writer visited the locality on the 25th, but failed to obtain any further information. The occupants lost all their belongings, and one estimated his loss at a minimum of £59.

Easter Shutdown.—Thef overhaul of the Waikino-Horahora line will be -made during Easter from the 10th to the 13th, inclusive, but no interruption to the board’s supply should be experienced.

Consumers—The total number of consumers connected to the bo.ard’s mains at March 31, 1925, is. 4787, which includes the boroughs of Te Arc-li a and Thames. Lighting and heating consumers number 75, and there are 3 stoves, 18 water heaters, and 25 farmers’ motors, of which 20 are 2-h.p. milking motors which were connected, together With one 40-h.p-, one 5-h.p., three 3-h.p., three 2-h.p., and 1 %-h.p. motors connected on meter rates. The number of inotois connected and operating on farms is 1314, of which 1084 are 2-h.p. milking motors.

ENGINEERS’ REPORT

The following was included in the engineers’ report: —

Fond’s Road.—The wiring of this road, which is on the-Thames section, shoukl be completed this week. Service lines are now being erected. Hauraki Plains.—Pole erecting and wiring on Moehau Road, Pipiroa, was completed during the month. The U.OOO-volt submarine cable has been laid across the river ,ijt Pipiroa, and the terminal boxes, lightning arrestors and high tension switches arc now being erected. Work on the Waitaka-ruru-Marainarua Road section is proceeding.