THAMES VALLEY POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5396, 6 March 1929, Page 3

THAMES VALLEY POWER.

MEETING W BOARD. The Thames Valley Electric Power Board .met at Te Atelia yesterday, Mr F. M. Strange presiding oyer Mepsrs H. M. Corbett, F. E. Flatt, J. Price, G. Howie, J. B. Thomas, C. A. Arthur, J. Pohlen, V?. E. G-. Willy, J. WAndersdn, the manager, (Mr R. Spragjie), and the assistant engineer (Mr Lindsay). REPRESENTATION. Dealing with the representation on the board of the Putaruru To,win Board, the Matamata Town Board forwarded a press report of a previous meeting at which the manager had indicated that as, an alternative to the present system, Putaruru Town Board be bracketed with Matamata Town Board for representation- The •Matamata Town Board opposed this, contending that it was well served by the Matamkta County representativeif Putnruru’s representation could not remain as at present it wais suggested' that the; membership of the board be increased by one. The manager said that the altera-, tion suggested would Open up a wide, question. Turua To.wn Board, for instance, would require representation. Mr Pric.e pointed) out that Matamata and other town, boards cduld nominate a man as the county represents-, five. The chairman asked 1 whether any member could: recommend a better system of representation. He .was of the opinion that the town boards were served as well as possible by their county members. Mr Audqrsqn. said Matamata had suggested that one member be appointed to represent all the town boards. Personally he could not see the value of a representative for, say, the Matamata and: Turua. town boards. The chairman moved that a reply be sent to the effect that the board had nei intention at present of. altering the basis of representation, as, in the opinion of the board, the present allocation could not be improved. WAIHI PLAINS RETICULATION. Mr W. Busch, Waihi Plains, wrote urging the reticulation of his district. The chairman reported that after the board had met the settlers recently, a c.anvass was made and it was found that there was. only a 25s deficiency in the revenue on the proposed lines. Mr Corbett said this was very grati.-. fying, and there was every chance that before long the lines would be goiod paying propositions. The extension was authorisedWAIHI BEACH AREA. The Taurpnga Electric Power Board wrote asking if a .workable arrangement could be arrived at whereby the Waihi Beac.li could supplied by that board- It was considered that the best way would be to altei; the boundaries of the two districts The chairman said that the line authorised for the Waihi Plains would go to within four miles of the beach. There whs no doubt that there was a very payable load available; at the beach, and that a canvajss would probably prove very satisfactory, but the board had had experience of the great difficulties encountered in transferring part of its agea tel another power board. It was decided to advise the Tauranga Board that the transfer of area could not be agreed to. The assistant engineer said that beyond the Waihi Plains linq just authorised there was a further load available from the farms on the way to the beach. TREE PLANTING. The State Forestry Department, Rotorua, forwarded a letter, of great length dealing with the growing, of suitable trees at Waitakai’uru for use as power line poles. Mr. Corbett said the question, to his mind, was whether the; board should continue this work. In operations of this nature it was. recognised that a competent officer should be employed, but with the limited area owned by the board this was not. feasible. Undejr the circumstances he would like a copy of the correspondence to be sent to each member for perus.al, with a view to deciding Mt the next meeting whether the scheme should be proceeded with or the land) offered for. sale. The chairman mentioned that the scheme; was given very careful consideration, and an enormous amount of data and adivice had been obtained. At present 54 -acres had been ploughed and 30 acres planted'. Thq board was guided in all its, operations by the Forestry Department, and' he thought that if Mr Corbett perused the details of the undertaking, from the beginning he would be more competent to judge' the value of the scheme. It was agreed to inspect the area before reaching a decision. DAIRY FACTORY SUPPLYA draft of a three-.par.ty agreement between the Public Works Department, the; N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., and the board for the supplv of power to eight dairy factor,ies was received from the Public Works Department, Hamilton, and it was agreed to accept it was some minor alterations-; WAIHI BOROUGH. In accordance with notice; given, the chairman moved that the following Resolution be rescinded: “That no further reticulation be made m the Waihi Borough’s area unless the Borough Council guarantees same.” Seconded by Mr Corbett an.dj carried. CHARGES. In accordance with notice given, Mr Strange moved: “That the matter of altering the present rate of charges be referred to the special Finance • Committee for it. to bring, down a report as to tlie advisability of an alteration.” Seconded by Mr Price and) c.arr,ied. MATATOKI QUARRY' SUPPLY. The Thames County Council wrote asking, that the meters at the Matatoki quarry be tested, as. it appeared ■ that, a mistake in charging for power. kSad occurred. The manager reported that the meters had proved correct.