THAMES VALLEY POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5024, 8 September 1926, Page 2

THAMES VALLEY POWER.

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The Thames Valley Electric Power Board met at Te Aroha yesterday, Mr F. M. Strange presiding over the following : Messrs. F. E. Flatt, W. E. G. Willy, G. Howie, J. Pohlen, J. McCormick, J. Price, J. W. Anderson, J. Thomas, H. Bush, C. A. Arthull, H. M. Corbett, the . manager (Mr R. Sprague), and the engineer (Mr N. G.' McLeod). FEEDER LINE FOR PLAINS. The Public Works Department wrote in reply to the board’s letter and advised that the Bombay-Wai-kino line Would not be completed until about September, 1927. Difficulties in connection with river crossings had been encountered. The board was asked for its opinion as to .the best location for a sub-station.

The engineer stated that he had made strong representations on the year’s delay in the completion of the work. The board had experienced considerable difficulty in connection with stoppages on the Plains and had promised the settlers that the position would be righted about the end of the present year, when the 59.000 volt line was in operation. Mr Willy suggested that the department be requested to construct the Waikino-Kerepeehi section of the line immediately, with a view to feeding the Plains direct from that end until such time as the supply came from Bombay.

A motion to that effect Was carried, and it was also decided that further representations be made to expedite the construction, and failing a satisfactory reply the executive committee should interview the Minister of Public Works. NGATEA STREET LIGHT. The Hauraki Plains 'Motors, Ltd., Wrote stating that with two other business concerns they were prepared to maintain a street light at the corner of the Ngatea-Pipiroa road. They understood the cost to be £3 15s per annum. The manager reported that provided the County Council undertook the responsibility for payment the light would be installed. LOAN MONEYS. The manager of the Bank of New Zealand wrote stating that owing to the magnitude of the loan the bank was prepared to reduce the usual commission to % per cent., but the coinmission could not be waived altogether. The representative of a Melbourne firm of finance broker" wrote stating that his firm was in touch with lenders for the £150,000' loan at £5 15's per cent. The Australian Mutual Provident Society wrote giving the-terms and conditions on which the loan of £lOO,000 had been granted. The loan was to be for a term of 36% years and the rate of interest was to be '5% per teent. per annum. The money to be taken in monthly instalments of £5OOO each, beginning on April 1, 1927. The conditions Were accepted. ' SIGNBOARDS. The Auckland Automobile Association wrote thanking the board for the concessions made in the matter of utilising poles for signboards and stating that they would considerably help the work along and enable the. first portion, of the sign-posting to be completed in the district before Christmas. ELECTROCUTED COW. A claim from Mr W. H. Mathers for £lB, the value of a, cow killed by electricity on August 7, was received. FAILURE OF SUPPLY. The district electrical engineer of the Public Works Department, writing in regard to the interruption in the supply on July 11 and 12, stated that the- difficulty wa> that the line to the Grand Junction had broken down. It was repaired, but another, defect was discovered in switching in. This further delayed the supply to the Grand Junction. POSITION OF WIRES. A Morrinsville farmer who had several farms connected by private telephone lines along public roads waited on the .board. ’ He stated that as the board had erected power wires along the side of the roads previously occupied by his wires, he had been instructed to remove his wires. The other side of the ; road was occupied by Government telephone wires, and the only course wa,s to allow the Post and Telegraph Department to put the wires on its poles for which it-would charge £9 a year more than at present charged. The settler therefore asked for a rebate of £9 per year from his power account, which amounted to £2o'o a year, in view of the fact that the boaj-d had deprived him of the right of way. The board would not grant the rebate, but instructed its engineer to go into the question and endeavour to 'arrive at a solution. TRANSFORMERS. Messrs Cory-Wright and Solomonadvised that the materials for theboard’s transformers had been ordered, but there was likely to be somedelay in delivery owing to the coal" strike.

The Finance Committee- recommended that the matter of procuringtransformers, owing to the possibility; of bad deliveries the coal r strike in England, be left in the hands-' of the chairman,, engineer, and manager, with nower to act.—Adonted. PATETONGA CANVASS.'

In reply to Mr Willy the engineer • said that as far as could be anticipated there would be a deceit of £53 in the Patetonga canva.ss. Very few water-heaters had been ordered, and if these were installed the line would be payable. Th lines from Smerle’s to Kaihere, Mangawhero Hoad, and the Tramline road were payable, but there, were deficits on the other lines. It was decided to commence the work when the district became payable, and that the present line be continued as soon as possible as. far as thet road was payable.