ELECTRIC POWER,

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5295, 4 July 1928, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER,

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. monthly meeting/ The monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was held at Te Aroha yesterday, the chairman (Mr F. M. Strange) presiding over F. E. Flatt, J. Price, J. W. Saderson, J. B. Thomas, C. A. Arthur, G. Howie, H. M. Corbett, H. R. Bush, J. McCormick, W- E. G. Willy, N. G. McLeod (engineer), and R. Sprague (manager). WAIHOU RIVER LINE. The resident engineer of the Publ’c Works Department, Paeroa, .wrote ad- ' ■ vising that about 50' chains of the board’s line was constituting an obstruction to the carrying out of the’ Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers improvement works, and it would be necessary for the service line to be removed at an. early date. The line referred to was on the left stop-bank of the lower Waihou River about 2 x /2 miles below Netherton and extending along the riverbank road from the corner near Mr J. H. J. Johnson’s house, down stream to Mr G- PuHar’s house. The department was arranging for'the telephone line io be removed also, and it would be advisable to work in with the Post and Telegraph Department with regard to the relative relocation of the two • lines for clearance, etc. Both lines at present were- situated near the riverbank, and the new s’te suggested was -immediately on the other side of the stop-bapk under construction. The engineer said that he had written to the department asking if it was prepared to pay for. the cost of removing the lines. So far, a reply had not been received other than that the matter had been referred to Wellington. The Lands Department had met the board, but the Publ’c Works Department was a different proposition. PEAK LOADING. The district electrical engineer of the Public Works Department," Hamwrote asking what .arrangements the board was making to obtain halfhourly readings of k.v.a. for the dairy . factories. If satisfactory arrangey meats could not be made the factories should be cut off for two hours at night and two hours in the morning during,the board’s peaks until proper metering gear was . installed.—Referred to the engineer. PHASING OF TRANSFORMER. Drawings showing the new phasing of transformers at W’aj.hou and Waikino.were forwarded by the electrical engineer, Public Works Department, Hamiltoy, together with the details necessary to bring about an adjustment. t THREE-PARTY AGREEMENT. The N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co. forwarded correspondence which had pa.ssed between the company and the ■' Public Works Department relative to the power accounts covering the s thrpe-party agreement supply during Ap®.—Referred to the engineer. PATETONGA LIGHTS. The Ha.uraki Plains County Council wrote asking, the board to instal a • light at Evan’s store, and ;a,lso one outside the public hall at Patetonga.— Referred to the engineer. REQUEST FOR TROUBLEMAN. The Patetonga Ratepayers’ Association wrote asking the board to consider stationing a troubeiman at Patetonga, aS the roads were becoming too bad for motor traffic. It was also pointed out that a number 'of settlers who were working from transformers on the top road were having excessive - fusing of electric bulbs, the writer, himself having ha.d six bulbs fuse in a short, period. The manager stated that an extra troubleman could not be established at Patetonga. In any case, the board was giving- an adequate service from Springdale. The engineer said that the trouble about the bulbs was due to them being faulty, and the matter had been taken up with the manufacturers. Several members quoted undue breakages in their respective districts. Figures had shown, that swinging lamps were quite as satisfactory as Lamps fixed on poles. PAEROA STATION. The electrical engineer, N.Z. Railways. Wellington, writing, with reference to the electric inter-locking system at the Paeroa station, stated that the installation ha,d been brought into use and was working satisfacvf torily. Although the voltage was not 1 as steady as- could be desired, it was understood that there would be an improvement in the near future. The department presumed that the charges for consumption of current would be at industrial rates. The manager stated that the standdard rate would apply. The engineer said that a steady % supply of electricity would be maintained! unless, something unforeseen happened. . DAMAGE TO FOOTPATHS. The board’s Paeroa depot forwarded a list showing a, total of 58 poles which had) been erected through the asphalt footpaths in the, streets of Waihi. The patching of the footpaths been done in most cases with tar ' and sand when the pavement had been top-dressed, and 1 in about a dozen .places chips and tar had l been used. So far as the Wa'hi Borough Council’s claim for damages, amounting to £l5, was concerned, it would be better to settle with the business at once. The manager said fhkt the dls,tHbiition engineer at Paeroa was looking further into the matter. Charges for power. An Auckland Arm wrote with reference to a revisioh'of the board’s method of charging for. power used in driving half horse-power motors; used in connection with the firm’s make of milking machine. It was considered altogether fair for a farmer who was using, such a low to have to pay as though he were using a much larger, motor. The chairman said that the matter would be. provided, for when the new rates came into force.