POWER BOARD POLES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5427, 22 May 1929, Page 3

POWER BOARD POLES.

USE OF WOOD. OR CONCRETE. WOOD MORE SATISFACTORY. After Mr N. G. McLeod, the engineer, had read his annual report to the Thames Valley Electric Power Board Mr J. B. Thomas asked if the cost of concrete poles would compare favourably with that of iron-bark ones, and, if so, were they not preferable to the latter.

The engineer’ in reply said that the cost was much the same for either type. A number of boards were using concrete poles which gave satisfaction, but this -board had found ironbark ones more suitable for its work. In regard to the cost of conveying poles from Newcastle direct to Kopu, as against the new method of consigning them to Auckland and then transhipping to scows, Mr Sprague said that the latter method was much cheaper. To gain advantage of cheaper rates, a whole shipload had to be brought to Kopu, whereas small consignments could be booked to Auckland. The Thames Harbour Board’s charge for discharging over the side at Kopu was Is 6d, as against Auckland’s 9d. Mr H. M. Corbett’s suggestion that all poles should be marked with the date of their erection was supported by the engineer as an excellent idea. However, the matter was not gone into further.