ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5122, 6 May 1927, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD MEETING ROUTINE BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of, the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was held at Te Aroha on Tuesday, the chairman (Mr F. M. Strange) presiding over the following: Messrs F. E. Flatt, W. E. G. Willy, H. M. Corbett, G. Howie, J. Pohlcn, J. W. McCormick, J. Price, J. W- Anderson, J. B. Thomas, H. R. Bush, C. A. Arthur, R. Sprague (manager), and N. G. Mc- ► Leod (engineer). KEREPEEHI SUB-STATION. The district electrical engineer of the Public Works Department wrote advising that it would lie necessary for the board to call tenders for the switchgear required for the Kerepeehi sub-station, delivery to be given in December next. Tenderers should be asked to supply, before August next, plans of the switchgear, to enable provision to be made for any holdingdown bolts or for holes in the. floor for cables or trifurcating boxes. The department requested the board to arrange for the cartage of poles from Kopu to the site. With regard to the metering of the. temporary supply, the department inquired if the special G.E. set would be available for the service, and if so, to forward the dimensions. MORRINSVILLE LIGHTING, The Railway Department wrote requesting the board to proceed with the lighting of the road facing the railway settlement at Morrinsville, —the lamps to be provided free of cost with a maintenance charge, of £6 a year. It was decided to give the supply asked for, and that the agreement be signed by the chairman and manager. WAIHI QUARRY POWER. The Waihi Borough Council wrote with reference to the contract for supply of power to the council’s crushing plant. The council had agreed in February, 1925, to guaran- - tee to the board £7O a year for five years if power was supplied to the crushing plant. The stone in the. quarry where the motor is situated had been oendemned for road purposes, and the council would have no further use for the motor, and still had the. minimum guarantee to pay each mon|h for nearly three years. The'" council requested to be relieved of all liability under the guarantee as from May 31. The- council proposed in future to use the steam roller as the source of supply for crushing metal at the various tip-heads, thereby making it impossible to use electricity. The chairman'said that the piatter required to be handled carefully. The board had quarries throughout its area, and safeguards against consequent or probable loss necessitated the obtaining of guarantees. Care and consideration should be taken in foregoing any guarantees. The matter was referred to the engineer and Finance. Committee, with a request for a report on.the position. REMOVAL OF POLE. -, request was made- by Mr G. L. Bur-mester, architect, for the removal of a power pole on the corner of the road by the new hotel building at Morrinsville.-—Referred to the engineer, with power to act. POWER BOARDS’ CONFERENCE. The Electric Power Boards’ Association advised that the next conference would be- -held in July, and the board was’'asked to forward remits before May 20. Members were invited to confer with the manager, with a view to framing a suitable, remit to be forwarded for consideration. The chairman, manager, and engineer were authorised to attend theconference. COMPARATIVE CHARGES. The Dannevirke Electric Power Board forwarded a list of charges operating in its district, as follows. The charges levied by the Thames Valley Board are given in parenthesis : 100 c.p. bracket lamps £4 each a year (£3) ; 100 c.p. suspension lamps £4 5s a year (£3, plus cost of extra - pole, if any); 250 c.p. suspension lamps £5 5s a year. (£5 12s 6d). Total number of lights in area 210 (300). A PROTEST RECEIVED. The ReV. W. W. Averill, Turua, wrote acknowledging receipt of. the board’s letter relative to the 1 cost of power. The writer entered an emphatic protest against being placed on the meter system when the farmers in the district were on a flat rate basis. The letter concluded: “Surely what is fair for on© is fair for all. I do not think it will cost a great deal more —it is the convenience of being able to use the electric stove at any old time that makes the flat rate . such a boon to the womenfolk. I had the electric stove installed on the understanding (verbal, unfortunately) that charges.for it were on a flat rate, and under the present system I am afraid I may be compelled to give it up.” It was decided to reply that the board’s policy was to meter all consumers who were not bona-flde farmers, and under that system no hardship existed. It was thought that after a trial of the meter system the consumer would be well satisfied, and possibly show a saving. FINANCE. C Accounts amounting to £17,1.16 9s lOd on the power fund and £1165 7s 7d on the loan fund were passed for payment. Tlie treasurer submitted a statement for the month showing receipts as follows : Lighting, heating, and power, £1721 12s 2d ; sales and wiring, £2552 3s 2d ; flat rate., £11,547 4s 6d ; glance, £19,727 18s ; sundries totalling £35,606.’ On the expenditure side power purchases were shown as £7673 12s 3d, sinking fund on the £350',000 loan £5250, wages £925 3s sd, debentureholders’ interest £1312 10s. salaries £599 18s 4d, stock £317 13s Bd, and sundries totalling £35,606.