HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2926, 22 August 1925, Page 3

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. Members present at Tuesday’s meeting of the Horowhenna Power Board held in Levin, were Messrs Monk (chairman), Brown. Ross, Barber, Matheson. Gunning, MacKay and Kilsbv, Messrs. Overton (consulting engineer), and Smith (engineer), were also present. SUPPLEMENT LOAN. The Treasurer reported that since the last meeting of the Board, he (Mr. Goldsmith) and the chairman had called upon the Government Life Insurance Commissioner with reference to a further loan for the completion of the reticulation in this district. It was pointed out to the Commissioner that another £15,000 would be necessary to meet the present development of the scheme, and the Commissioner thought that if an official application was made, the Department’s Lending Board would consider the matter of letting the Power Board have this sum upon the same terms as the previous loans. The formal application was duly forwarded and the Board’s decision may he expected very shortly.

The chairman said in connection with the proposed loan of £12,000, that this would hardly be enough for the work to he done and the Finance Committee had decided that, it was advisable to arrange for an extra £3OOO. It was better to do that, he said, than to have to go back and make further application. In the meantime, with the money coming in, this loan would complete the job. ACCOUNTS. Accounts for confirmation totalled £2507 Ss 3d, of which £1221 has been paid to wiring group contractors, £O2O for wages, £l3B freight, £227 salaries. Accounts for payment amounted to £0412 9s Sd, which included £1350 10s 5d for the first half yearly instalment of the Board’s first loan of £40,000 from the Government Insurance Department. Transformers account for £llOO, bare copper wire for £IOO6, 2 new cars £BB9, ranges about £4OO, tripple braided cable £205, water heaters £l3O, poles £309, M.D. insulators, etc. £240, motors £139, and meters £SO

Over £2OOO has been received during the month for electricity, most of the large quarterly accounts having come in. From Ist April to date the receipts for the loan account were: Installations £4944, service lines £444. For the Power Fund the receipts were: Electricity £Oll9, meter rent £203, motors, ranges, etc., £IOBO. WORK OF THE MONTH. . The Engineer (Mr. J. A. Smith) submitted the following report: — Line Construction. —No. 3 Wire Gang have mn 13 chains of wire in the Whirokino Settlement and under the main Foxton Line, also erected 45 service poles and rails, 4 earth guards, and run 17 services. The Substation Fitters dismantled the Substation at Ohau, the transformer of which is now on the 4-wav switching tower, completed the substation on the Beach Road, Levin, completed the substation on Te Horo Beach Road, which is livened up, completed the substation on Muhunoa Road West, completed the substation on Whirokino Settlement, also built, a substation on the soldiers’ settlement road, and one on Kuku road which are awaiting panels and and transformers. They have also unloaed transformers and dried several out.

Particulars in detail were given of the work done in the workshops. Installations. —In the Heatherlea Group, Lunn and Henelv are making good progress, having only 4 more installations to complete. All the installations completed have been livened up. Soldiers’ Settlement, Whirokino. —A. Allen has completed the wiring of these installations with the exception of some change-over switches and thermal cut, outs for tlic motor installations and we expect to have these livened up in the course of a few days.

G. F. Eeles and Co., have completed the Central Development Farm and this installation has been livened up. They are now busy installing 5 milking motors for Mr. F. S. Easton, Foxton, and have also several to install in the Shannon district.

During the month the more important industrial consumers have been connected up as follows: — Flaxmills. —A. Seifert, 80 h.p.; W. Ross (Poplar Mill), 125 h.p.; Ida Flaxmilling Co., Ltd., 65 h.p. Central Development Farm, 200 lights and 2/3 li.p. motors.

Ten extensions to installations have been applied for including 2 motors.

General.—With regard to further supplies of poles I would advise that authority be given to purchase against quotations which are now being called. No interruptions of supply have been experienced during the month except those arranged for. The maximum demaud at the Power House is now over 678 k.w.

In connection with the engineer’s report, the chairman said he liked to see the transformers being changed. “That we have had to increase the size shows our load is gradually creeping up. Mr, Matheson asked how long was the changing of transformers from size to size likely to last, and the consulting engineer (Mr. Overton) said it was a very difficult matter to definitely say at the outset what size would finally be neees-

sary. It did not cost much to change. IN CASE OF BREAKDOWNS. In connection with breakdowns of supply Mr. Ross thought that arrangements should be made for allnifi'h telephone services in every district. The chairman said that the matter had already been taken up with the Telegraph Department. Mr. Maekay stated that on a recent occasion the lights had been on four nights running in Paraparaumu, and he thought in a case of that sort that if any telephoning were done by private individuals the cost should be borne by the Board, The chairman suggested the sending of a “collect” wire. Mr Smith said he had been discussing the matter with the Telegraph Engineer and it would he arranged for one continuous telephone in each district.