POWER BOARD WORKS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5470, 4 September 1929, Page 4

POWER BOARD WORKS

LAST MONTH’S OPERATIONS. MANAGER’S REPORT. The following report covering the work of the month, was presented to the Thames Valley Power Board meeting yesterday by the manager, Mr R. Sprague :— “Torehape Canvass.—This canvass will be commenced early in the present month. It has been impossible to undertake same earlier, and if authorised by the board reticulation cannot be considered before January, 1930. “Balance-sheet —The balance-sheet has been returned from the AuditorGenera' duly certified as correct. Copies of same will be available to the members upon completion by the printers. “Metering.—The first shipment of 1200 meters arrived during the month, and the installing of meters on the Patetonga section has been commenced. Upon the demand for' installations slowing down, all available wiremen will he placed on metering. “Representation.—A meeting was held at Matamata on August 28 with reference to Putaruru Town Board’s representation on the board. Delegates from the Putaruru and Matamata town boards and the power board attended. The outcome of the conference will be the consideration at this meeting of a letter from the Putaruru Town Board. “Consumers.—The total number of consumers connected to the board’s mains is now 7026, including those of the Thames and Te Aroha boroughs, 1074 and 640 respectively. You will notice that the total now exceeds 7000 consumers. During the month 36 lighting and heating consumers, 33 water-heaters, 9 electric ranges, and 38 motors on farms were connected. There are now connected and operat ing 1747 water-heaters, 321 electric ranges, and 2168 motors—of which 1805 are 2 h.p. milking motors—on farms. Tn addition, during the month 16 consumers had lighting and heating extensions made, and one 60 h.p., 1 20 h.p,, one 2 h.p., two I h.p. and one l-6thh.p. motors were connected vn meter rates.

“Quite a number of milking motors are on meter rates. Owing to the large number of long service lines now being erected it has been very difficult to obtain stocks, more especially copper wire,. However, ample stocks are now to hand, and very little delay has been caused. “Dairy Factories.—The restricted hours of operating that ham been functioning for the last 12 months have been removed by the Public Works Department, apd the factories are now running through 24 hours.” 4— ENGINEER’S REPORT. The following is the engineer’s (Mr N. G. McLeod) report in. part,' as submitted to the meeting : — “Waihi Plains.—Approximately one mile of poling has been done during the past month, and there have been run 120 chains of 400-volt circuit, 150 chains of 11,000-volt circuit, and 170 chains of high tension telephone circuit. Two 50,000-11,000-volt crossings have been erected to Public Works Department requirements. “The transformer has been shifted from Yearbury’s to a new position, supplying the old and part of the new reticulation. Power has been made available on the first section, but the consumers are not yet ready. “Kerepeehi Block. —The construction of the 11,000-volt line on this section, together with a mile of 400-volt circuit, has been completed, and a 25 k.v.a. transformer installed. Supply was made available on August 28 to those consumers who were ready. Th? remainder will be connected almost immediately.

“Erection of poles was difficult here owing to the siding of the upper layer of earth on the lower lying clay. “Hikutaia Quarry.—Power was made available to this auarry in August 5, the plant being driven by a 60h.p. synchronous induction motor. “Matamata District.—Hedley’s and Troughton’s Road : The 11,000-volt extension on this road has been completed, the conductors being No. 8 galvanised iron wire.” After reading his report Mr McLeod further commented on the difficulties of construction in the F.erepeehi block, adding that in regafd to 15 poles the clay was nine feet telow, and the earth simply squeezed out.

Mr Price questioned the advisability of using galvanised wire. People seeing it lying by the roadsute would not pay to it the same rcspec; as the copper wire. A live galvanised wire down on the road would const.'nue a grave danger from that cause. He asked if galvanised wire wre cheaper than copper. The engineer cxplaimd that galvanised wire was cheaper, but used only when the load did not warrant the use of copper Copper wire of the same size carried 12 times more alternating current power with the same loss as galvanised, and 7 or 8 times as much with direct current. In admitting Mr Price’s point was quite a good one, Mr McLeod said that at the same time it was a very remote possibility. Galvanised wire was only used as a temporary relief. Mr Price, in conclusion, said he was quite satisfied to leave the matter to the engineer’s good judgment.