POWER BOARD WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5360, 5 December 1928, Page 4

POWER BOARD WORKS.

OPERATIONS DURING NOVEMBER. REPORTS BEFORE THE MEETING. The fallowing statements on operations during November were submitted to the Thames Valley Electric Power Board meeting yesterday:— MANAGER’S REPORT. Mr R. Snrague, manager, reported: “Kopu Dump.—This dump has now been cleared of poles, and a further dump has been taken ewer at the Paeroa wharf, which will mean a good saving to the board on the handling of poles. The Paeroa Borough Council, through the Mayor, met us very favourably in the establishment of this dump. “Installation Charges.—Owing to the Statutory Land Charges Registration Bill now being law, it is necessary to register against the land all charges for installation on time payment terms extended to> consumers. This will entail additional expense and labour, owing to having the titles searched and the charge registered. Installations made prior to the passing cjf this Act have a further period allowed in which charges outstanding can be registered! However, every consumer with an installation unpaid has been notified to this effect by registered letter. “Three-Party Supply.—There is a copy of a letter forwarded to the N.Z. Dairy Co. by the Public Works ■ Department, stating that owing to a shortage of water power and slack coal the diepartment cannqt give ithe dairy factories a continuous 24 hours’ supply, and that they will be cut off for six hours per day. I understand that the Dairy Company is taking the matter up with the Public Works Department in Wellington. , “Consumers.—The total number of consumers connected to the board’s •mains now totals 6840 1 , including 1074 consumers at Thames and 640 at Tfe Arc;ha. During the month 20 1 lighting and heating consumers, 20 waterheaters, 4 electric ranges, and' 11 motors on farms — Bof which are 2 h.p. milking, motors —were connected. There are now connected and operating 1620 water-heaters, 267 electric ranges, and 2097 motors on farms — 1778 of which are 2 h.p. milking motors. In additi'on, during the month eight consumers had lighting, and heating extensions, made, and one 40 h.p., two 25 h.p., one 15 h.p., 1 7% h.p., one sh.p„ one 3h.p., two % h.p., and one 1-3 h.p. motors were connected on meter rates.”

In reply to Mr Willy the manager said that the extra charge for registering against the land wag about £l. However, since the Aqt came into force most of the installations had been for cash.

ENGINEER’S REPORT.

THE PAEROA DISTRICT.

The engineer, Mr. N. G. McLeod, reported as follows: —

“Mackaytown.—A pole sub-station has been erected at Mackaytown to supply the Gold‘Dredging, Company’s plant, and a 50 k.v.a. transformer, has been installed. Supply was giXten on November 19.

“Kopu.—The pole dump at KQpu has been cleared! during the month and all pojes shifted to the Puke, where the tramline was laid after removal from Kopu. A further 500 poles received by boat from iAuckland have also been stacked on lhe Puke dump.

“Turua.—A new transformer station has been, erected opposite the Turua dairy factory, argb a 50 k.v.a. transformer installed, the transformer at the corner of Piako being replaced by a 25 k.v.a transformer. “Maintenance and General.—A new transformer station has been erected at Kopuarahi to replace the -existing platform, which has rotted considerably. This transformer: and the one at Orongo were interchanged,, to better suit the respective loadings, the Kopuarahi transformer now being 25 k.v.a. and the Orongo transformer 15 k.v.a.

“Line straightening anil maintenance have been done o n Puhanga Canal, Clot-worthy’® Road, and Turua, Bush Road* and Waitakal’uru. Hubbard’s Road line has been overhauled and a 7-14' neutral run to improve regulation.

Mr Thomas asked, th© comparative cost of concrete poles. The chairman said that the matter had been thoroughly I nvestigated and a report presented some time ago. The engineer said he had found that i,t would not pay* t/he board to use concrete poles owinp; to the favo<u table terms under which it secured ironbark poles. The boards which were using concrete co ul<l not secure ironbark poles so cheaply, but could: make concrete poles taore cheaply than Could the Thames Valley Board. He was watching tjie matter, and the time might co-me when it would! pay the board to U; je concrete. At present wood was preferable, but he would advise the boarci as scon as anything developed to warrant a change.

Mr Price considered that the board had received, and was receiving, very good service front i its iron-bark pedes.