POWER BOARD WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5335, 5 October 1928, Page 1

POWER BOARD WORKS.

OPERATIONS DURING SEPTEMBER. ENGINEER’S REPORT. included in the engineer’s imaffthly report presented to the Thames Valley Electric Power Board meeting on Tuesday was the following :— PAEROA DISTRICT. “Kopu-Or.Qngo 11,00'0-voJt Line.— The erection of this dOuble-cjrcuit line was commenced on Sepember 6 an(d completed on September 28. On, accoiunt of bad ground all poles have been bedded in safid, all angles stubbed, and the stubs heavily anchored. “iOn the east Siide of. the river the running of the second circ.uit from Thames, Road to the bridge head was completed on September 2-1. “Cables. —The drawing-in of . the ■cables under the bridge wasl completed iqp September 20, bad weather causing considerable delay. It was often Accessary to dismantle all gear ami tie up, in order to prevent damage to cables. The services op Mr Tew, one of the Auckland Harbour Board’s; divers, apd his assistant, were secured by cojurtesy of the Harbour Board’s engineer for the purpose cd' securing the undersea cables to the bridge piers,. The necessity of so fastening the cables was amply demonstrated from the diver’j? observations. He- aJso, found) that a load of stone had been dumped alongside one of. the piers up which our cjablesi are taken on the western p side, and it is necessary for this to be moved before the cables can be properly fastened on that side. An examinatioin of the cables, is to be made to. siee if any damage 'hap been sustained. “The jcjhting of. thg cables; is proceeding, work on, this section also, being, hampered) by the severe weather; " “Kerepeehi.-—A fire at the local hall c.aus,e.d damage to our low tension! line there, but owing of work, repairs could not be completed until the following day. • GENERAL. “Supply generally during the) past month, hap, caused consjiderahle inconvenience because of low - voltage at times, and short “Apart from lightning; sWma the main difficulty was the, fire at. the Horaihora transformer station oT» September 1. The Matamata district suffered seriously for the first few days', but. since then hag been receiving ' good sfiiPPly. It is hoped by special arrangement io continue this supply until Arapuni is ready, but‘it will depend upon,' whether t’he present, plant operation can be maintained by the Public Works Department, which is dOjing all in its power to give satisfactory supply to all consumers. “Further improvement in the service is expected any day .now, when a 3000' k.v.a. extra ,qf transformers is to be put into operation at Hc*ra;hor.a, and the 50,000-volt connecting line between Horahora and Waiarongomai is linked up again,. “Although having serious grounds ■fc'.r complaint about the service in many places, the consumers generally have been mqst reasonable, recognising the difficult, circumstances. Great credit is due to the Public Works Department for its prompt restoration) of the damaged plant, anjd thanks are due tq those other authorities who s'o ably assisted the general scheme with their own generating plants.” MANAGER’S REPORT. The manager, Mr R. Sprague, reported as, follows “Trees, —Trees endangering the board’s, lines have now been remind by the owners with very few except.ic;ns. Those owners: who have failed to act have now been legally notified, and definite action will Ise taken with* in the next few days if the dangerous trees are not attended to. “Conference at Horaihora.— A conference of all the supply authorities taking; supply from Horahoraj was held o.n Wednesday, September i 5. The deputy-chairman (Mr JPric;a), engineer, and manager represented the board, and Mr Price will detail the ■matters discussed .and agreed tC» “Matamata. Town Board. —Notification has been received that Mr JPrice has; been returned . upoppGSed as representative- for Matamata Board for a. further term. ‘ ‘ Consumests —-The total ; number, of consumers connected tc>, .the board* mains is nojw 6776, which includes those of. the Thames and Te Arbhai boroughs. The Thames \ consumers number 1074 and Te Aroha,6‘ld. During the month 41 lighting aind heating consumers, 46 water-heateiis, 9 electric ranges, and 38 motors—-of whi'Ch 35 were 2 h.p. milking motors —t>n farms, There are now epnnected anid operating 1544' water-heaters, 256 electric ranges, and 2059" motors, of which 1745 are 2 h.p.; milking motors. In addition, 39 consumers;, had lighting and heating extensions- made during the month, arid: one 115 h.p., one 7%-h.p., one 3'h.p., one 2 h .p., and one % h.p. motors were coninected on me,ter rates, ■ “The installation department instill very busy with .work, : mara especially with, additions: to installations, and quite a ',number of milking motors will be’ connected' during the quarter.’'’