ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5427, 22 May 1929, Page 1

ELECTRIC POWER.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was held at Te Aroha on Monday, Mr F. M. Strange, chairman, presiding over the following : Messrs J. M. Allen, 0. A. Arthur, H. Bush, H. M. Corbett, F. E. Flatt, J. Pohlen, J. Price, J. B. Thomas, N. G. McLeod (engineer), and R. Sprague (manager). Transformer Contract. Mr W. P. Gauvain, London, wrote in regard to the transformer contract awarded to Messrs Johnson and Phillips, Ltd., and enclosed a copy of his letter to them wherein he stated that unless he heard to the contrary the firm’s test certificates —which should be forwarded to its New Zealand agents—would be accepted. Spare sets of porcelain terminals were required for each group of transformers. As the transformers when installed would be scattered over an area of 2300 square miles, it was essential that a supply of spares should be made available at various points, hence the necessity for the comparatively large number of spare terminals. Shed Fire. Mr R. Goble, the board’s Morrinsville troubleman, reported having received a call to disconnect Mr H. A. Munro’s shed, at Kereone, it being on fire. The current was therefore cut off. No cause of the conflagration was ascertainable. Overhanging Trees. A report was received from Mr R. E. Mitchell, the board’s distribution engineer - at Paeroa, with reference to trees on Mr F. Johnson’s property at Ngatea interfering with the board’s wires. When asked to cut them, Mr Johnson had merely trimmed them on several occasions, which caused the trees to grow more strongly. Mr Johnson required the trees for shelter purposes in front of his house. The writer wished to know whether the board could charge Mr Johnson for damages or force him to cut the trees. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Flatt, to inform Mr Johnson that unless he kept the trees constantly in trim he was liable to damages. Nursery Trees. A tree nursery firm at Rotorua advised that it had large stocks of wellknown trees in the nurseries suitable for the board’s requirements in its plantation. The matter was left to the Trees Committee to go into. Eucalypts for Power Poles. The Conservator of State Forests, Rotorua, asked whether the board intended planting again this year. He had noted that decision was to come later on a memo of his dated March 1, and wished to know the result if decided. Engineers’ Conference. A copy of a remit to the Electric Supply Authority Engineers’ Association from the Timaru Borough Council stated that the council considered the annual conference should be held at a more suitable time of the year, and recommended February or November for consideration. The council considered that executive officers in charge of electric supply undertakings should not be away from their respective areas of supply during winter peak loads, and when all plant and equipment were subject to the possibilities of severe overloads. The general manager of the Timaru Borough Council’s electricity department, in a covering letter, stated that personally he considered the election of officers should take place on the first day of the conference and not the last day, when there was generally a rush through various causes. In future the council did not intend to allow its officers away during the worst period of the year. Mr McLeod and Mr, Sprague both agreed with the Timaru Borough Council’s contentions. Mr Corbett pointed out that it was better to hold the conference at the beginning of the Parliamentary sesson, as there was then more chance of matters receiving favourable consideration. Mr Flatt said that the matter was at the boards’ convenience, not the engineers’ and managers’. On the motion of the chairman a resolution of sympathy in regard to the Timaru Borough Council’s remit was passed.