HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3849, 25 September 1928, Page 3

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Electric Power Board was held in Levin last week, there being present: Messrs G. A. Monk (chairman), W. E. Barber, T. G. Vincent, R. Bryant, E. S. Morse, C. Blenkhorn, A. J. Petherick, and A. Seifert, M. P. W. Goldsmith (secretary and treasurer) and Mr. J. A. Smith (engineer). TREASURER’S REPORT. The following report for the past months was presented by the treasurer : ACCOUNTS. In the absence of any charges this month either for interest or electricity the monthly pay-roll is comparatively a small one. There have been paid away since the last meeting of the Board, accounts totalling £7Ol 10s 2d, the principal payments being for wages £269, salaries £307, bare copper wire £59, and benzine about £4O. Accounts for these amounts are now submitted for the Board’s confirmation. The accounts to be passed amount to £595 Is lOd. The largest item on the list is the accident insurance premium for the current year, the amount being £135. Other items are 1-25 k.v.a. transformer £66, Regina pumps with motors £55, T. B. Gable £42, insulators, pole steps, and clevises £56, Foxton Borough Council for attendant’s services £57, water-heaters, motors, elements £6O, the balance being made up of payments for oil, benzine, spares, printing, stationery, and many sundries. RECEIPTS FOR AUGUST.

During this month £2584 was collected, of which amount £2065 was paid for electricity. The returns under this head are keeping fairly close to the estimates, although the lessened revenue through the abolition of meter rents has not yet been overtaken. The following table will be of interest: — Aug. April-Aug.

£2584 £19,825 LOAN EXPENDITURE. At the close of the half-year the loan moneys at present raised will be about exhausted. In round figures the expenditure will reach £3,200 with wire and poles on order amount to say £BOO. The loan moneys raised to date total £190,000. Before taking steps to raise a. further sum of the loan authorised by the ratepayers, it would be advisable for the Board to take into account the various extensions proposed and decide its policy therein. The finance committee could then go into the matter to arrive at the amount of money required, also to consider the best method of raising the same, and make a recommendation to the Board accordingly. Referring to loan requirements, the chairman said that the Board had plenty of authority; it was just a question of how the money could be raised. The report was adopted, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Vincent. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows : Small extension of L.T. was made on Levin-Foxton Road. The transformer at Marotiri was changed. Earth testing was carried out at Paiaki, Gladstone and Kimberley Roads, Levin-Foxton circuit and at Hautere. Three transformers have been dried out and reconditioned. Installations. —During the period If applications from new consumers, and 24 applications to existing installations for extensions have been received, comprising 6 ranges, 8 waterheaters, 3 milking and separating motors. Fifteen new consumers and 27 extensions have been connected, including 4 ranges, 8 waterheaters, 9 milking and separator motors, one industrial and 3 pumping motors. Three chicken brooders have been connected, making a total of five, and one incubator, all of which are working satisfactorily. Thirteen single-phase and 6 polyphase meters have been tested and 8 repaired and re-tested. Eighty railway sleepers have been cut into breast-blocks, the emery grinder overhauled and new bearings fitted, one 11,000 volt switch panel completed, and and a quantity of line material made up, and general maintenance carried out. The chairman commented in favourable terms on the demand for current as disclosed in the report. In answer to questions by Board members as to the electric brooders and incubators, the engineer stated that they were very satisfactory and there was no danger of fire. To deal with any stoppages of current, these appliances could be obtained with an alarm attachment. The report was adopted, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Morse. Replying to a question by Mr. Vincent, the Engineer stated that the load was distributed very well. In the middle of the night it was about 500 k.w.

Electricity 2065 16,407 Penalties 27 134 Installations and sei - vice lines 406 2,783 Interest on installations 28 193 Consumers’ Deposits 11 62 Cottage rents and sundries 45 244