ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5047, 3 November 1926, Page 2

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The regular meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was, held at Te Aroha yesterday, the chairman (Mr F. M. Strange) presiding over, the following: Messrs H. M. Corbett, F. E. Flatt, G. Howie, J. Pohlen, J. Price, J. W. Anderson, J. B. Thomas, H. R. Bush, C. A. Arthur, R. Sprague (manager), and N, G. McLeod (engineer). PLAINS SUB-STATION. The Public Works Department’s district electrical engineer, Hamilton, wrote with reference to the finalising station at the Hauraki Plains. The department hdvised that it was proposed to provide for two banks of transformers in the sub-station, and sought information as to the capacity required and the number of feeders required in the initial layout of the sub-station. In reply to the chairman .the engineer said that the sub-station would bq .worked under similar conditions to those obtaining at Waihou. PATETONGA CANVASS. Replying to the board’s inquiry, Mr J. F. Mayn, Patetonga, wrote asking fdr a list of the settlers who had signed up for motors and water-heaters, together with those who had signed up for motors only. He also desired to know, when Patetolnga’s quota was being considered, if the motors installed by the two flaxmills had been taken into account. The matter was referred to the manager. A WAITEKAURI INQUIRY. A settler at Waitekauri wrote advising that he intended erecting a small sawmill and inquiring the prospect of securing power tol drive the saws. If power could be made available the current would be. used between peak load hours: only. From. 15 to 20 horse-power would be required, and information with regard to size and cost of a motor was sought.—Referred to the manager. POWER FOR MILL. Mr D. Hunter, Pateto'nga, wrote inquiring how quickly the board could instal electric power at his flaxmill at Kaihere. The chairman reported that supply should be available in the region, of Kaihere a,t the beginning of next milking Reason, provided no unforeseen circumstances arose to delay the work. POWER FOR MARAT OTO. The Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Ltd., wrote advising that the company was prepared to accept the terms for the supply of power to the company’s mine at Maijatoto. The chairman stated that the board’s solicitors were preparing a.n agreement to be for,warded to the company for approval and signatue. PAEROA' TRANSFORMER. In reply to Mr Flatt the engineer said that it would not be necessary to remove the transformer and building from its present sjte near the Criterion Bridge, Paeroa. Owing to the pending erection pf the- new traffic bridge it had been necessary to remove a large pole so as to give a 56ft clearance. The removal of the pole had thrown the line out somewhat, but it would be straightened up in its permanent position on completion of the new bridge. LOW VOLTAGE.

The electrical engineer of the N.Z. Dairy Co., Hamilton, wrote complaining of the low voltage at the Ngatea and Waihou butter factories. He pointed out that a large number of electric stoves and some pumps had been installed at Ngatea recently, and the voltage showed at 210 instead, of 230 from 3 p.m. daily. The company was. apprehensive Of a recurrence of the trouble experienced last year. The factories mentioned required a s.teady power supply until '5 p.m., apd it was necessary to know what the future position was likely to be.

The engineer stated, that so far as the Ngatea factory was concerned there would be some improvement in the votlage within a few weeks, when the synchronous condenser should be in service at Turua. Further, improved conditions should obtain when the Kerepeehi feed-point was in operation, which would be about June next. With regard to .the voltage of 210 instead of 230 being obtained at Ngatea, motors would carry their full load without overheating with ,a ten per cent, rise or fall in voltage, and the variations in speed at full load for a ten per cent, fall in voltage was approximately only one per cent. As the actual voltage fall was only nine per cent belohv normal »at peak load, there should be no difficulty at the factory under such load. The engineer stated that the case of the Waihou factory had also been investigated, and 220 volts was the = lowest record obtained. The trouble: at that faptdry appeared to be mechanical, the belt being found to slip > badly at times, causing the current to-* rise above 7% amperes.