ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5187, 5 October 1927, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY toARD MEiETI ROUTINE BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of Cie. Thames Valley Electric Power Boar'l was held at Te Aroha yesterday, the chairman (Mr F. M. StrangC') presiding over Messrs, H. M. Corbett. 1. hFlatt, W. E. G. Willy, G. Howie, .1. McCormick, J. Price. J. W. Anderson, J. B. Thomas, C. A. Arthur, and the manager (Mr R. Sprague) and the engineer (Mr,N. Gl McLeod). POWER FOR MARATOTO. The Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Ltd., wrote forwarding an agreement for the supply of power to its mine at Maratoto. The necessary bond would be forwarded on completion of the signatures. The company had set aside a sum of money to create a sinking fund in order to relieve the guarantors of any responsibility in the matter. The chairman said that the document was in order. It was resolved that Messrs Price and Arthur be authorised to sign the agreement on behalf of the board. POWER FOR PAEROA. The chief signal engineer, N.Z. Railways, Wellington, wrote . with reference to the electric signal interlocking system to be installed at the Pareoa railway station. In view of tihe early installation the department desired to know when power would be available. The Load would be about 8.5 k.v.a., and the arrangements and layout had been made allowing for three transformers 3300-110 v. It was also desired to know at what point the supply would be available, and in that connection the. Thames end of the station yard and a point between the old station site and the station would be suitable.

The engineer stated that a direct transformer supply could be given from a 11,000-volt line anywhere between tijei railway bridge oveir the Ohinemuri River and the level crossing on Puke Road, north of the old station site. The board could give a satisfactory 400'/230-volt supply at either place;. Supply from a low tension main was the cheaper proposition, and would be just as secure as a supply from a 11,000-volt line. EXTENSION OF LINE.

The architectural branch of the N.Z. Railways; advised that it intended to ere,ct two cottages at Waihi, and asked if the board would extend its power line to supply the houses. It was decided to advise that the installation could be made free of charge provided the distance was, not more than 60ft in length. PAYMENT FOR DAMAGE. A letter wag received from H. L. Bayly, Tirau, with reference; to an account from the board claiming £2B 'ss for damage done by a branch of a tree falling on his private Hue and burning out a transformer situated on the roadside. Thei yVrit&r stated that the branch in question was being cut, to keep the line clear, and came down taking some of the po-wer line with it. It was- contended that had the fuses at the; transformer functioned properly no harm would have befallen the transformer. It was hoped that the board would look further into the matter, aul that a satisfactory settlement would be arrived at. The matter was referred. to the manager and Mr Anderson. POWER TO FACTORIES. The Norfolk Dairy Co., Ltd.. Morrinsville, wrote stating that at the annual meeting of suppliers a suggestion had been made to apply to the board for a reduction in the price of power. The present rate, had been in force for some time, and although the price of benzine had fallen considerably there had been no reduction in the cost of power. It was contended that suppliers using oil engines were doing their milking at considerably less cost than those using electricity . It was also pointed out that suppliers to cheese factories who did not use a separator used 1 & '- S power than a supplier to a butter factory, but the charge on a butterfat basis was the same, it being contended that some allowance' should be> rpade. It was decided to reply that the board was pursuing its policy, and at the present time could not see its way to reduce- its charges. In seconding Mr Flatt said that until the Government reduced its charges to the board there was no immediate prospect of any reduction. CUBICLES FOR KEREPEEHJ. A Wellington firm of electrical engineers wrote acknowledging the board’s order for the supply of feeder cubicles for the Kerepeehi substation at a cost of £823, and adivsiiig that the order would roceive immediate attention. RENTAL OF OFFICES. A notification was, received from the Piako County Council advising that a sub-committee appointed for the purpose had recommended the vacating of the offices at present rented from the board. The chairman pointed out that the board could do with those- rooms at present occupied by the; County Council.

Mr Thomas said he was opposed to hurrying the council out of its offices. He was strongly opposed to the board’s ratepayers and the countv ratepayers;, who were practically tlie same persons, being required to share in duplicated expenses. It was explained by the-, manager that the board was not pushing the County Council to vacate. The plerk had stated that the County Council was renovating a cottage so as to make it suitable for offices, and also that the council now desired to have its own offices. "In any case, we want the extra room for the engineering department,” concluded Mr Sprague. It was decided to refer tjie matter to the chairman, manager and Mr Arthur to go into and bring down a report for the next meeting.