HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3719, 19 November 1927, Page 2

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Electric Power Board was held at Levin on Tuesday, presided over by Mr. G. A. Monk (chairman). The following report was presented by the treasurer: — Accounts. —-Since the last meeting of the Board £702 Is lOd has been paid out, the major portion of this sum being for wages and salaries. In the accounts for payment the largest one is a half-yearly debenture which falls due on November 30th, and is in respect to the second loan of £40,000 from the Government Life Insurance Department, the amount being £1356 16s sd. It is the fourth half-yearly debenture. Of the other accounts in round figures the principal items are copper cable, which accounts for £250, installations £150; and benzine £BO. The total amount to be passed for the day is £1055 0s 4d. Receipts. —For the month of October from all sources the sum of £5959 4s has been received. This includes many of the large quarterly accounts for electricity and also some of the quarterly instalments for installations. It will be seen from the table hereunder given that the total receipts for the seven months of the financial year is £30,715 which includes £24,655 for electricity • and meter rents. From these sources for the same period last year the returns were £20,803; consequently the increase stands at £3851.

(Shillings and pence omitted). •Cash receipts from sale of electricity from April Ist to October 31st, 1927, £24,655 10s 8d; from April Ist to October 31st, 1926, £20,803 16s 4d; increase, £3851 14s 4d,

•, The chairman remarked that the revenue side of the statement seemed to be fairly buoyant and up to expectations. The report as to proceedings against certain consumers was, perhaps, not quite so pleasing; but such action was nevertheless, necessary in some cases. The report was adopted. FOREMAN’S REPORT. Foxton-Himitangi line has been commenced, and the main portion of this line should be completed'by the end of this week. On new construction the following are detailed figures:New service lines, 21. , Extensions to existing service lines, 2. Poles erected, 69. -Chains of wire run, 500. During the period, voltage tests were taken in a number of places, the majority of such tests showing a satisfactory pressure. Where low readings were obtained, the necessary attention will be given to assure a satisfactory service. The chairman stated that in many cases it was being found necessary to put in heavier wire, or Wind wire on' to existing lines, to meet the heavier voltage; this was being due throughout the district. The load was increasing much faster than had been expected, and in many cases heavier copper had had to be put in. This had been discovered in connection with the cooking load. It was not peculiar to this district —practically all power districts had the saine trouble.

Mr. Barber asked the chairman if he had any idea of the cost of reinstatiug the wire. The chairman: In some cases they have wound other wire in; and in other cases, like Otaki, they have created another sub, which is expensive. It relieves the strain on the main sub-station, and you have not so far to carry the current on the existing wire. Mr. Barber: It came on the Board fairly quickly. The chairman: Most Boards are suffering from it. The chairman of the Manawatu Board said that they expected to have a fairly heavy expenditure there through the same cause, their load having grown. Mr. Seifert: Palmerston has hardly any cooking load. The secretary stated that the Manawatu-Oroua Board was supplying 311 ranges, and the HuttValley Board 513 ranges. The report was adopted.

Oct., April11927 Oct. £ £ Installations, fittings and service lines 1085 5177 Interest on Installations 75 420 Consumers’ deposits 10 63 Electricity and meter rents 4742 24655 Penalties 14 146 Rents and miscellane30 251 Totals £5959 £30715