ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5036, 6 October 1926, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. MEETING AT TE AROHA. The monthly meeting of the Thames. Valley Electric Power Board was held at Te Aroha yetserday, the chairman (Mr F. M. Strange) presiding over the following: Messrs, H. M. Corbett, F. E. Flatt, J. Price, J. Pohlen, J. B. Thomas, G. Howio, H. R. Bush, J. McCormick, C. A. Arthur, W. E. G. Willy, R. Sprague (manager), and N. G. McLeofa (engineer). DAIRY FACTORY METERS. The electrical branch of the Public Works Department, Hamilton, in reply to a letter from the board, requested that some more, accurate meter than the Wright type should be installed at dairy factories. For the Waitoa and Waharoa factories a k.v.a. hour meter with a maxicator should be installed. The engineer sa,id that the matter had been satisfactorily fixed up, and the department had agreed to accept a cheaper class of meter than the one indicated. POWER’ SUPPLY. In a letter dated September 11 the Public Works Department, in reply to the board, advised that there was no intention on the part of the department to restrict the supply of power. The chairman sa,id that such an assurance was satisfactory, and the board’s works would not be hampered. Mr Willy said it was desirable to know what the department’s poliicy would be after the end of this year. The engineer 'replied that there was sma.ll chance of the department supplying such information at the present time. BOWER FOR MARATOTO'. In connection with the provision of power at Maratoto, the Ohinemuri Cold and Silver Mines, Ltd., wrote advising that it approved of the board’s terms excepting the request for a bond to cover a period of ten years. The company held the view that as its first year’s consumption would be at least £1125, a,nd the succeeding years’ three times that amount, a five years’guarantee should be sufficient. If the board would agree to tihe concession the company would have the bonds submitted for approval. The chairman said the position was that when supplying the estimates for power to the company the board had taken a broad view of the matter. If the company had not sufficient faith in its mine it could not reasonably expect the board to take any risks, and the board was not prepared to reduce the term to five years. MATAMATA REPRESENTATIVE. The Matamata Town Board wrote advising that Mr J. Price had been elected unopposed as the representative of that district on the Power Board. The chairman said that Mr Price had proved a valuable member, and it was with pleasure he was. welcomed to the board table for a further term. CARTAGE OF POLES. The engineer, Matamata County Council, wrote .as follows : — “Some time ago I remonstrated with your men moving poles along the road west of Tirau for using a rough sledge on the metal. This occurred oh at least two occasions, and the foreman promised to obtain a wheeled trolly for the purpose. Yes.terday, about three miles west of Tirau I came across two men dragging poles about the. metal road surface. A small fourwheeled trolly was lying on the roadside near them. The man I spoke to said he was in charge and gave his name as. McCorkindale. Plqase take disciplinary action.” The engineer said that the matter was not nearly so serious as it appeared, and very little damage had been caused. The trolly wasi temporarily out of action, but it had since been repaired and was in use. PLAINS BRIDGE LIGHTS. The Hauraki Plains county engineer wrote advising that the Marine Department had directed his. council to have larger shades, placed over the electric lights on the Puke bridge and the Ngatea bridge, the object being td shield the light from the river boats and reduce the dazzle. The council also decided to erect a light on the Kopuarahi side of the Pipiroa ferry landing similar to the one °h the Pipiroa side, and requested the board to have the work carried out. The chairman stated that the request had been complied with. EXCESSIVE WHARFAGE. Mr Flatt referred to an item of £29 which was due to the. Thames Harbour Board for wharfage charges on a synchronous condenser at Turua, and said that he considered the charges were excessive. The chairman agreed, .and explained that the condenser had been shipped from Auckland to Turua and would be erected a& soon as arrangements cohid be made. There had also been some difficulty at the time in obtaining permission to cart the condenser over the roads. It would have paid the bbard better to have left it at Auckland, where the charges would not have, been so high. It Was resolved to refer the matter to the local member of the Thames Harbour Board with a view ttf obtaining a reduction in the charges. In reply to Mr Flatt the engineer said that he hoped to move the condenser off the wharf in about a fortnight’s time. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £3424' 19s on the power fund and £9218 6s 7d on the loan fund were passed for payment.