ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4864, 12 August 1925, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER.

THE THAMES VALLEY BOARD. MEETING AT TE AROHA. The monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was held at Te Aroha yesterday, .the chairman (Mr F. H. Claxton) presiding over the following: Messrs P. Grace, F. E. Flatt, J. Pohlen, J. AV. McCormick, J. Price, J. W- Anderson, J. B. Thomas,' F. M. Strange, C. A. Arthur, the manager (Mr R. Sprague), and the engineer (Mr N. G. McLeod). NGATEA FACTORY SUPPLY. The district electrical engineer, Public Works Department, Hamiltonwrote in connection with the supply of current to the Ngatea butter factory. He stated that such supply under the three-party agreement to dairy factories, . particularly the smaller ones, appeared to result in a much greater advantage to the board owing to the diversity than was originally considered probable, with a corresponding reduction in revenue to the department. It Was suggested that if the board could not take on additional factories ajs ordinary consumers, then the factories should be supplied under the three-party agreement ; but the department should take the whole of the revenue paid by the consumer, instead of threequarters as at present, and that the advantage obtained from the diversity would be a sufficient return for the board for transmitting the power over its lines tb the consumer. The board was asked to advise if the Ngatea factory could be supplied on those lines.

Mr Strange remarked that the department did not want much. The matter was referred to the engineer. ELECTRIC SUCTION DREDGE. ■ The resident Public Works Department engineer, Paeroa, advised that the hours stated by the board for the supply of current to the electric suction dredge on the Waihou River were not suitable to the department, as the men would not be able to work the requisite number of hours per week. The chairman stated that a. slight extension had been granted, but Anal arrangements would not be made until the dredge commenced to work two shifts. The engineer intimated that he had the matter in hand. LOAN OF £50,000. The Public Trust Office advised that the sum of £14,816 15s had been placed to the credit of the board’s account. That sum represented the first and second instalments oh account of the £50,000 loan, less cost of printing debentures (£5B ss) and preparation fee (£125). Interest would be charged as from July 1. .RENT OF OFFICES. The Piako County Council applied for a further twelve months? lease oi the office accommodation in the board's building, and requested that the rental be reduced to £2 a week. The chairman said he thought it would-be better to take the £2 than nothing. The present rental was £3, but the board’s assistant engineer would not require *a separate office for some time to come, and he favoured extending the lease.—Agreed to. APPRECIATION. The Waitomo Power Board wrote acknowledging the information and assistance given to its members by the board. OFFER OF FINANCE. A public accountant in Auckland wrote offering to float a loan for £150,000, provided the board would consider a. term of 36% years and pay 6 per cent, interest The chairman said that the board was not at present in need of another loan. . Mr Strange remarked that it was a pity the, money could not be made available for farmers.