ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5236, 8 February 1928, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD MEETING

ROUTINE BUSINESS. The first meeting this year of, the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was held at Te Aroha yesterday, the chairman (Mr F. M. Strange) presiding over Messrs F. E. Flatt, H. M. Corbett, W. E. G. .Willy, G. Howie, J. P(4|§n, J. W. McCormick, J. Price, J. W. Anderson, J. B. Thomas, H. R. Bush, C. A. Arthur, R. Sprague (manager), and N. G. McLeod (engineer). Holiday reduction of supply.

The electrical branch of the Public Works Department forwarded a nUmJtej* off .letters relative to the filling of Lake and reduction of power . available from Horahora during the Christmas holidays. A lengthy report on the position was also submitted. The chairman said that the matter had beep dealt with .and advertisements inserted accordingly. PEAK HOURS. ' The chairman said he understood that the Te Aroha Borough Council had been in the habit of shutting down the- power during peak hours for 'half an hour so as to save peakhour charges. He thought the board should take the matter up with the council. The trouble was that the' board was being blamed feu - the stoppages. It .was hardly fair,. because the board received enough “bricks;” as ; «it was;. /■¥' Mr Corbett said it would be only . -fair if the council advertised its proposed shut-downs. The chairman agreed, and said it was just as well that the council should be advised that thq board was aware of its activities. A similar notice had been forwarded to the Thames Borough'Council., > AN OPINION SOUGHT. Counsel to the Power Boards’ Association forwarded a letter from the Auckland Electric Power Board rela- " tive to inspections during progress of works; and asked ..the board to forward its views' on the matter. Thq letter read:— l y-“We do not consider it reasonable to hold an inspector responsible for any defect which. may be discovered in an installation after its completion and which may have developed subsequently. We feel, alslo, that the matter should be one between the Public Works Department and the board, leaving any action against the inspector in the fiends of the board rather than that the Public’ Works Department, should deal directly w'ith . the inspector concerned.” The engineer said it was not fair to hold inspectors, responsible. It was quite impossible to see all wiring. It would mean taking down blocks, and in! many cases lining boards. The

licensing authorities should be the judges of whether the-inspectorsi were / negligent. That had been the. policy ( adopted by the Thames Valley Board. He could not think ' that the Public rf’JWorks Department would be ar•Mr Flatt said he was of the opinion that the board should be allowed discretion. ■ It was decided to support the Auckland board. . CONFERENCE OF SECRETARIES. Advice was received that the annual 'conference of secretaries of electric power boards and supply authorities wou|d take place at Wellington' on February 22 and 23. Poweir boards -werp asked to forward remits, and the-business of the conference was detailed. ./The chairman said that a lot of important work was discussed' at such Conferences. " To Mr' Flatt the chairman said it was not encumbent on secretaries to bring back a report to. the boards they represented. The idea was - for secretaries to have a'full and free, discussion on all matters: generally, and thq knowledge gained would ’no doubt be of great advantage to the boards. . Mr Sprague was, .authorised to attend the conference. VALUATION ROLLS'. • The Valuation Department wrote advising that in consequence of the of the Piako and Ohinemuri coufities the figures appearing in the board’s valuation rolls would be superseded by the values revised as at March 31, 1928. The, board was jitfsked to advise if it required copies /fR?/the new valuation roll. It was decided, not to apply for the rolls. The' secretary said that the board -. obftinpkl its information from the local bodies concerned. LOAN MONEY. - A firm of Dunedin brokers! wrote offering to negotiate a loan for the board fer*£6ooo with a currency of 20 years at 6 per-cent.—Referred to the manager. HOUSE FOR SALE.' A letter was received from a Turua business man' offering to sell his (house and section, which adjoined the board’s property in the Turua township. pianager said that as the board Bad its, own property he did not think the housie and section were required. The engineer said that nearby residents had complained of the vibration of the transformer, and if the board wanted a house and section' and save another tenant complaining the place under offer should be considered. Tttis view was Shared by Mr Willy. . Finally ft was resolved to ask the whiter to put a price on the property so that the board could further consider the matter. • CERTIFICATE OF TITLE. , The Lands, and Deeds Office, Auekforwarded the Certificate of Title relative to the board’s section .at Ngatea, being portion of HorahiaCbpou No. 4B block, for amendment and return. The matter was referred to the board’s solicitors for action. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to 5s 4<d on the power fund and £4820 5s 9d on the loan fund were passed for payment.