ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4934, 3 February 1926, Page 2

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. FEBRUARY MEETING. The first meeting this year of the Thames Valley Power Board was held at Te Aroha yesterday, the chairman (Mr F. H. Claxton) presiding over the following: Messrs P. Grace, F. E. Flatt, W. E. G. Willy, G. Howie, J McCormick, J. Bohlen, J. Price, J. B. Thomas, F. M. Strange, C. AArthur, and the manager (Mr R* Sprague), and the chief engineer (Mr N. G. McLeod). COOKING STOVES. The cooking instructress of the manual school, Paeroa, wrote stating that the McCleary stove installed by the Power Board had worked satisfactorily in every way. The writer stated that she had carried cut all branches of cooking in the oven and everything had been a, success. The Btove had proved to be economical to use, and had been a boon to the classes. The chairman said that it was very pleasing to receive an unsolicited testimonial. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYMENT. The Auckland Savings Bank advised that it would, not be responsible for payment of accounts for electrical fittings and installations supplied without its consent by the board to any applicant whose land was mortgaged to the bank, and it would defend any action to register a charge on such lands.

The chairman said that there was

a case pending at the present time.

AUTHORITY FOR REPAIRS. The secretary of the Kerepeehi' Ratepayers Association wrote acknowledging receipt of an account for renewals and repairs to the street sa Tights. Exception was taken to the work being done without reference to the association. Mr Willy said that the association was finding difficulty in meeting the expenses- of the lighting system, and was forced to hold concerts to raise sufficient money. It was unsatisfactory to-have the account.; forwarded for renewals of which the association had no knowledge. It was, resolved that in future all repairs and renewals were to be referred by the troubleman to the association before being carried out. LOAN INSTALMENT. The Public Trust Office advised that the Te Aroha postmaster had been instructed to pay the sum of £7OOO to the credit of the board’s account, being the final instalment on account of the £50,000. POLE FOR FIRE ALARM. The Paeroa Borough Council made application for permission to bolt a - piece of timber to pole number 200, opposite the fire station, for the purpose of temporarily eercting * a fire alarm bell. The letter stated that the council would indemnify the board against any possible accident that might arise out of the granting of such permission, or for any damage that might occur to the board’s property. It was, agreed that it was not desirable to accede to the request, but the board was prepared to loan a pole for the purpose temporarily. ATTENDANTS’ DISPUTE. The Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association wrote advising that at a sitting of the Conciliation Council :to hear .the switchboard attendants’ dispute, it was decided to confine the dispute to the Auckland - Power Board, and Wilson’s (N.Z.) Portland Cement, Ltd., and the Thames Valley Power Bo&rd would not, therefore, be a party to the dispute. , FINANCE COMMITTEE. The finance committee recommend- : ed that the Public Works Department be urged to expedite replacement by larger transformers at the Waihou sub-station ; that tenders be : called for the purchase of 35 transformers, : and that five recording meters and twelve sgts of leakage replays be purchased. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £18,412 6s 7d on the power fund account and £13,704 3s 4d on the loan account Wei® passed for payment. ELECTRIC TOY RAILWAYS. The chief electrical engineer, Public Works Department, Wellington, wrote as follows;:— “It has, been brought to my notice that applications are being made for approval to use on the ordinary house service electric toy railways* which are of dangerous design. The par- . ticular railway which I examined was intended for use off the lamp socket or heating point. The starter had two lamps in parallel and a resistance in series with two lamps. The lamps were on ordinary - batten holders, and it was possible to run with one lamp out and the terminals exposed. Further, an open circuit on the motor on the engine would result in full, potential on the exposed midrail, and. on the exposed contact of . the resistance.

“As many dealers, may not consider it necessary to consult the supply authority I am taking the opportunity of bringing this matter to your notice.”

The engineer said that up to the present no cases had been brought under his notice.