ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4888, 9 October 1925, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY DISTRICT. MEETING OF BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board was held on Tuesday, the following being present: Messrs F. H. Claxton (chairman), P. Grace, G. Howie, J. Pohlen, J. A. McCormick, J. Price, F. E. Flatt, J. B. Thomas, F. M. Strange, C. A. Arthur, and J. W. Anderson; also the manager (Mr R. Sprague) and the engineer (Mr N. G. McLeod). ELECTRIC RANGES. A long letter was received from the Public Works Department with regard to the regulations made to insure the safety of .those using electric ranges. RAILWAY SIDING. The Railway Department advised that It was prepared to grant a renewal of the board’s private siding right for a further five years. It was decided ,to renew l for live years,. BREAKDOWNS. The following resolution from the Thames Borough Council with reference to two new transformers for the borough supply was received : “That the request to contribute £3O per annum bo acceded to, and the board be informed that as the transformers are the property and under control of ,the board the council is unable to accept any liability in respect to and will advise the board in the event of the load being materially increased.” —Received. WAIHI POWER. The Waihi Borough Council wrote stating that the Mayor of Waihi and Crs. Morgan and Lockington would meet the manager’ at Waihi any suitable time to discuss electrical, matters affecting the town. The chairman said that the board had already appointed himself and the manager to meet the Waihi representatives. SHIFTING iOF MAINS. The town Jclerk, Paeroa, worte stating that his council, had been advised that it was not responsible for the account for shifting mains in Hill Street, Paeroa. The chairman, engineer, and man-, ager were appointed to discuss the matter with the Paeroa Borough Council. Mr Flatt said that the Borough Council was quite prepared to meet the board and go into the whole matter. The borough had, however, advice that they were not responsible. The chairman said that the matter would be referred to Mr Martin, solicitor. LOAN OFFERED. Messrs Langley and Co., Wellington, Wrote stating that they were prepared to raise loans for local, bodies in NewZealand to any extent at 5% per cent, for 36% years, with 1 per cent, brokerage. POLE GROWING. The Conservator of Forests wrote

stating that the Lands Department was prepared to sell the board the section at Waitakaruru for £3OO. The price previously suggested was £664'. The chairman, replying to Mr Arthur, said that nothing coul ; d be done at present, but the committee would go into the question of the cost of growing poles. GUARANTEE FOR POWER. Mr C. E. Marshall, Pipiroa, writing in reply to the manager, said that/ no question of a guarantee was raised when his contract with the board was made. He asked if the board always insisted on a guarantee of revenue similar to that required from him before building a line.' It was, stated that .the board was deriving some revenue from the line already. The chairman : Whatever revenue is derived will be credited to the line. TAPPING CONDITIONS. Wiiting with regard to electrical supply to Waihi Plains, the district engineer stated that the department would consent to the tapping of the 11,,000-volt line running to Waihi at a point near Victoria Bridge on the following condiitons : (1) The board to bear the whole of the cost • (2) the board to supply at its own cost the necessary switch gear and metering equipment; (3) the price to be the standard unit rate, namely, Id per unit from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Vad from 8 p.m. to 8 a,m. without any minimum. The Chairman : This will enable us to do business in Waihi which otherwise could not be done. EXHIBITION COURT. A letter was received from the organiser for the Auckland Court at the Dunedin Exhibition seeking the board’s support for the court in the form of a substantial contribution. The chairman said .that the board s ratepayers were ratepayers of other local bodies, and by giving a sum of money they would be overlapping. It was not want of sympathy, but he did not think that the board on the stand it had previously taken could contribute. It was decided not to contribute. ARAPUNI METERING. The district electrical engineer wrote stating that he had considered the question of the metering at Arapuni of the board’s 11,000-volt supply and thought that possibly the best way to arrange for it in the absence of metering would be for the department to charge the board 40 per cent, of the board’s revenue for each quarter for which payment was made.,lt was stated that arrangements would have to be made with Messrs Armstrong and Whitworth. Replying to Mr Flatt, the engineei said that there were no spare transformers. Mr Flatt: How many gangs are out wiring and .poling ? The Egineer: About ten. Mr Strange: What is .the total staff now ? The Chairman : 180. The chairman said they , had got

.through a marvellous amount of work during the month, and the board appreciated the good work done by the staff. ' Mr Price said that in view of the fact that there was a shortage' of transformers, ,and that the shipping strike might affect them, it had occurred to him that it would be wise to ask .the co-operation of the farmers in restricting the load. TIME PAYMENTS. In answer' to Mr FJ,att the chairman said that the matter of preparing a list of time payment accounts wias in hand.