POWER BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 24, 20 April 1938, Page 3

POWER BOARD

THE MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Bay ot Plenty Electric Power Board Avas Held last week in the Board’s meetingroom. Present, Messrs J. B. Gow (chairman )j J. W. Sumner, J. G. Mitchell, F. J., Burt, F. J. Savage, S. Maxwell, W. T. Burrett, J. D. Dicker (engineer-manager) and G. A, Hathaway (secretary). A The minutes of the previous meeting Avere read and confirmed. Accounts as. presented byj the finance committee were passed for payment. Confirmation of -the Board’s appointment of Air S. AI ax we ll to’ vote at the Borough elctions on behalf of the Board, was received. A letter from the Rangitaiki Dairy Company, asking the. advice of the engin-eer-manager as to a mere economical way of running their machinery Avjth regard to the consumption’ bf power, AA'as received. Air Dicker stated that he had gone into the matter thoroughly and had submitted suggestions and expressed his willingness to assist with any further problems relative to the cost of supply. The engineer’s report. Avas presented. Air Goav suggested that Air Dicker acquaint the Board with the efforts lie Avas making in endeavouring to minimise the trouble with power failure. Air Dicker stated that he Avas aiming to operate the switches over a telephone circuit from one central point. Considerable experimental Avork Avas necessary but it was hoped to isolate the various sections and thus greatly reduce the time taken in attending to faults. At the present time the experiment Avas at a most encouraging stage. In reply to an inquiry by Air Maxwell, Air Dicker stated that it Avas hoped* to isolate the sections to a three mile radius. Air Dicker pointed out that at present the Waiotalii sub-station did not have a Post and Telegraph telephone installed and stressed tbe necessity for the installation of one as an auxiliary. The annual rental AA'as £l2 9s 8d of which the* Public Works Department contributed half. Proposed by Air J. G. Alitchell and seconded by Air Burt that a telephone be installed.

Mr Burrett enquired the policy which the Board adopted with regard to the payment of salaries to employees absent on account of sickness. After some’ discussion, it was proposed by Mr. Sumner that the matter be left in the hands of Mr Dicker with a maximum of one month’s sick leave, special cases to be brought liefore the Board. Seconded by Mr S. Maxwell: The secretary announced that the next meeting of the board would be held on 10th May and suggested that the annual meeting be held on 31st. May and* replace the June meeting. —Resolved. Mr Sumner moved a vote of thanks to Mr Dicker icr the trouble lie had taken in supplying information for the benefit of the Rangitaiki Dairy Company. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair. Engineer-Manager's Report. The engineer-manager, Mr. J. D. Dicker, reported as follows for the month of March : Line Erection ; 37.6 route chains of 400 volt on i I,OOO volt lines erected. Manawahe: All the poles on the first eight miles have been erected, and the pole snigging completed. A start lias been made on the wire stringing over the first section. Oonsumers’ ’Service Lines: 4. new service ,lines completed totalling 7.9 route chains of line, and- 4 services altered. Line Maintenance: During the month a number of interruptions occurred on several sections of the Board’s system, the majority; being due to the, failure of insulators on the 11,000 volt lines. Three consumers’ service lines overhauled and repaired. Consumers connected to 31st. March 1938 (during the past month): Ranges 5 k.w. and over, 2 new connections, 2 reconnections, 3 disconnections, 547" total to date, 514 corresponding period 1937. Ranges 2 k.w. up to 5) k.w. 0, 0. 0, 69. 64. Total ranges 2.2, 3, 616, 578. Motors (excluding milking and bulk supply) 4, 0, O', 144, 119. Shops and offices 0, 0. 0. 225, 221. Houses 6,6, 11, 1583, 1484. . Rumps 5, 51, 1, 390, 351.

Dairy water heaters 2,0, 1, 536, 535. Domestic water heaters 2,2, 3, 609, 568. Total water heaters !. 2,1, 1,145, 1103. Milking plants 3, 1. 2, 628, 616. Separator motors 1,0, 0, 342, 323. Total consumers, 9,6, 12, 1809, 1735. Tota] connected' load k.w. 8239 k.w., 7769 k.w. P.W.D. Supply: For the above month there was no complete shutdowns over the whole area. The AVaimana. and Opotiki areas> were shutdown on the 10/3/38 for 31 minutes and again on the 11/3 38 f° r 1 hour 23 minutes to ’ enable the P.W.D. to connect into service the new 1509 k. v.a. transformer bank at Waiotahi.