POWER BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5509, 4 December 1929, Page 3

POWER BOARD.

OPERATIONS DURING MONTH. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The following report by the engineer (Mr N. G: McLeod) was submitted and approved at the meeting of the 'Thames Valley Power Board yesterday:— PAEROA DISTRICT. “Waihi Plains.—The 11,000-volt main line from Waikino has been completed to Evan’s Street in the borA ough of Waihi. A transformer sta- ® tion has been erected in Adams Street. ' It was livened, up on November 26, a low tension supply being run back to the last two consumers on Frankton Road. “The erection of the 11,000-volt line i through the borough of Waihi is proceeding. It is expected to have a mile and a-half of the main line along Tauranga Road completed by Christmas. “The wet weather and construction in rocky country, necessitating the use of explosives, has delayed work on this section somewhat. “Ohinemuri Mine.—Metering equipment to measure the total energy used the mine and battery was installed on November 17. Our men who have been employed upon the installation of the electrical plant have almost finished. M "Hubbard’s Road. —The rearrangement of supply on this road has been completed. The transformer at Nathan’s, on the Thames Road, has been changed for one of 25 K.V.A. capacity, and it is carrying all the .load back to the top of Hubbard’s Road. “The 15 k.v.a. transformer which was at Nathan’s has been erected on a' new structure at Hubbard’s Road railway crossing. The 5 k.v.a. transformer which was at the corner of 1 Thames and Hubbard’s roads has been removed. “This work was completed on November 14, and made alive on November 18, Supply being much im- || proved. ; “Rawe Rawe Road.—The work of erecting an 11,000-volt line on the existing poles for 70 chains down this road has been commenced. Supply should be available within a few days. “Paeroa Borough.—Extra phases have been run in Moore, Bush and ! Corbett streets to deal with increased load. “The poles in the main street are fitted ready for wiring, xyhich work will be done when the Post and Telegraph Department wires are removed to their new position. “During the month 18 service crossings have been erected over the new Post and Telegraph, cnostruction. TE AROHA DISTRICT. , “Old Te Aroha Road.—The whole of V this road has been overhauled, and preparation made to have 11,000-volt .. switches installed at the intersection the Mangaiti Road. This latter will facilitate the location of trouble on either side. . “Storms.—A severe thunder storm passed over the district on Saturday, "November 9, causing widespread trouble due to the blowing of fuses. The secondary winding of Kereone Hall transformer was damaged, and bushings broken on the Mangaiti transformer and the one at Aitken’s, Kereone. The oil switch controlling the transformer at Te Poi factory also suffered some damage. Repairs were effected the same night. “Another severe storm passed over the area on Wednesday, November 27, but apart from damage to the terminal board on the Waiomo Road transformer there was little serious trouble. “Service Lines.—Seventy service up to 30 chains in length, were yerected during the month. “Meters. —Good progress has been made by the meter-installing gangs during the past month, approximately 2130 meters, having been installed to date. ™ “In the Kerepeehi section consumers on the western side of the Waihou River have been metered. Work is now proceeding on the eastern side of the river, on the Waikino point. fi. “In the Waihou district the gang * has progressed towards No. 1 road on the north and western side of the railway. - “Although metering of the Waikino and Kerepeehi sections is not yet completed, the sum of the loads on these two feed points is about 40 k.v.a. less than at the beginning of the quarter, tehi spite of the fact that approximately WOO k.w. of additional load has been connected. “Installation Work.—This branch continues to be very busy, and the demand has necessitated the employment of extra men.” MANAGER’S REPORT. The manager, Mr R. Sprague, reported as follows :— “Cooking Demonstrations.— Cooking were held at Ngatea, ( * Paeroa, and Te Aroha during the month. These were very well attended by consumers, but to date very few sales of ranges have eventuated. Upon the appointment of a permanent demonstrator by the board this form of cooking should become popular. The jMotal number of electric ranges on the Jbohrd’s mains to date is 338. ■ “There is a communication from the chief electrical engineer, Mr Kissell, before the meeting this day with regard to electric ranges, and I am ar- ' ranging for each consumer to receive a copy. * “Metering.—Good progress is now being made with metering, and 864 consumers previously on flat rate are now changed over. The area west of the Waihou River connected to the Kerepeehi feed point has now been completed. “Consumers. —The total number of consumers connected to the board s Chains is now 7166, which includes ■HIO4 consumers in Thames Borough and 640 in Te Aroha Borough. Dur- . Jjjg the month 27 lighting and heating 1 'consumers, 33 Water-heaters, seven electric ranges, 36 motors on farms, .and eight shearing motors were connected. There are now connected and

operating 1878 water-heaters, 338 electric ranges, and 2276 motors on farms, of which 1866 are 2 h.p. milking motors. In the above connections during the month 10 milking motors were connected in metered areas. In addition, 46 consumers had lighting and heating extensions made, together with one 15 h.p., one 3 h.p., two 2 h.p., two J h.p., and two 5 hp. motors on meter rates. “The Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines at Maratoto increased the loading with three 60 h.p. one 30 h.p., two 25 h.p., and one 10 h.p. motors, totalling 320 h.p.” After the report had been read Mr Torr, referring to the cooking demonstrations, suggested that in future at these affairs meters should be on view, as many questions had been asked about the amount of current used. Mr Sprague said it was intended to erect a large meter in future, so that people could see the actual number of units consumed.