POWER BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 8, 9 March 1938, Page 1

POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING 4 POWER FOR CALATEA . } ASKED FOR • ( AYHAKATANE BOROUGH SUPPLY .■ The monthly meeting of the Bay of Plenty Power Board was held in the Board’s meeting-room yestei'day moi'ning. Pi'esent: Alessrs. J. B’. Gow (chairman), S. Alaxwell, F. J. Burt, J. W. Sumner, J. G. A 1 itch ell, F. J. Savage; Air. G. A. Hathaway (secretary) and Air. J. D. Dicker (engin-eei'-manager). An apology for absence was received from Air. AY. T. Burrett. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed 1 . Air. 8. Alaxjvell was appointed to vote at the Borough Council elections on behalf of the Board. Power Wanted. Air. F. H. Walsh, writing on behalf of the Galatea Settlers’ Association, wrote asking if the district came under the jurisdiction of the Board and if the district could be supplied with power. Air. Dicker informed the Board that the Galatea, district was in the Board’s area. The cost of putting the power into the settlement was originally estimated at £25,000. It. was not possible at the time to make it a payable scheme. The Board could not get any co-operation or assistance from the Department. There were only 27 settlers on the estate now, so that it could he seen it would not be a payable proposition. The estate was only being developed byV piece-meal methods. Mr. Alaxwell said the guarantee would be out of all reason—approximately £IOOO a' settler being required to put the power into,, the district. i Air. Dicker said that only about half-a-dozen men were being settled each year. Air. Burt said the estate extended about 40 miles. The Board decided to secure further particulars relating to future; development of the estate. The chairman, Air. Gow. said that if a subsidy were paid the Board until such time ns the scheme became a payable proposition, it would be all right. Whakatane Borough Agreement. The agreement, between the \Y. ha butane Borough Council and the hoard was presented by the engineer-manag-er. Air. Dicker, whci said .there Juki been a number of alterations made by the Council. This had been, again amended and the agreement had to again go before the Council lor perusal. As far as he could see the agreement should now he practically complete. The alterations in the draft agreement were read by Air. Dicker and discussed by the Board. Air. Alitehell moved that the Board approve of the agreement as amended. Seconded by Air. Burt and carried. Air. Dicker said that all the equipment necessary for the supply to the AVhakatane Borough had not yet come toi hand, but was expected at jin early date. A small supply of power was at. present being mad© to the borough. Office Arrangements. Air. Dicker suggested alterations to the building and the construction upstairs of a strongroom. He said this would save a great deal of time and it would be possible to safeguard all the books from- fire. Air. Burt moved the matter he left in the hands of the engineer-manager and this was agreed to. It was decided to make an additional office-room. Arapuni Yisit.—Air. Dicker referred to the projected visit to the Arapuni power system by members of the Board, and i<t was decided to arrange a suitable date and to leave arrange-

merits in the hands of the engineermanager. Report.—The engineer’s report was approved. Anniversary Day Pay.—A letter was received from the workers’ .union fe paymentto workers for Anniversary Day.—Mr. Dicker said the day in question was a, Saturday and was not a working day. The men had not asked for payment. ENGINEER-MANAGER’S REPORT Mr. J. D. Dicker, the engineermanager, submitted the following report for February:— Line Erection: 21.44 route chains 400 volt on 11000 volt lines, also dismantled; 16 route chains 400 volt on 11000 volt lines. 1 new sub structure and 15 k.v.a. transformer erected. MCanawahe: 162 poles carted on the line route or deposited in convenient dumps for slugging, and pole- slugging under way. 23 poles erected. Consumers’ Service . Lines: 13 new service lines completed totalling 37.20 route chains of line. 2; services, altered and 2 service lines dismantled, amminting to- 38.51 route chains of line. Line Maintenance: Tree cutting and general line maintenance carried out where required. 12 consumers’ service linos overhauled and; repaired. Duo to a storm on the fth. and sth. Fenruary a number of interruptions occurred on Rsuigitaiki and Matata- ■ feeders between 11.35 p.m. on the 4th. and 10.25 a.in. on the sth. A lightning storm on the 16tli. caused, fuses to he blown on 1(» subs. On the 18th. flood water washed out a -pole on Thornton Road necessitating its removal and alterations to the lino. Consumers Connected to 28th. February. 15)38 i during the past month;-: Ranges -5 k.w. and over, 5 new connection. 1 re-connection, 0 disconnections. 546 total to date, 515 corresponding periefd 1937. Ranges 2 k.w. up t 0: 5 k.w. 1. 0, tO, 69. 62. s Total ranges 6, 1. 0,-615, 577. Motors (excluding milking and bulk supply) 4, 0, 0. 140. 114. Shops and offices 0, 07 1. 225, 218. Houses 13, 7,3, 1582. 1,478. Pumps 3, 0 . 2. 385 . 351. Dairy water heaters 1. 0, 535, 537. Domestic water heaters 4,2, 0. 608. 566. I otal water heaters 5. 2, 0. 1143, 1103. Milk - ing plants 1,2, 2, 626, 618. Separator motors 1. 0. 0. 341, 322.- Total consumers 11, 5,1, 1806. 1728. Total connected load k.w., 8249 k.w., 7742 k.w. . P.W.D. Supply': For the above month there was one shut-down of 4 minutes. General: The amended draft agreement between the Whakatane Borough Council and the Board is tabled for discussion. During -the' month the district experienced heavy flood conditions and after consultation.* with the chairman it was decided ■■ to assist farmers operating flood pumps by removing the off peak restriction*s until the flood waters had receded • to a safe level. The combined load totaling' approximately 100 h.p. [