POWER BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 56, 13 July 1938, Page 3

POWER BOARD

MEETINC HELD YESTERDAY DIFFICULTY IN SECURING POLKS A meeting of the Bay 'of Plenty Pqwer Board was held'in the Board's office, Upotiki -I yesterday morning. Present: Messrs F. Burt (chairman;, Mitchell, Sumner, Spence (Wliakataue), Maxwell, Gault, Barrett; Mr J. I). Dicker (engineer-manager), and Mr G. A. Hathaway (secretary). The minutes- of the previous ordinary meeting were confirmed. Accounts as presented were passed for pay--ment.

Conference. —In connection with the conference to be held at an early date in Wellington, the board decided that Messrs F. Burt, J. D. Dicker and G. A. Hathaway attend the various sections of the conference, Accounts. —The difficulty in collecting accounts at Ohope was explained by Air Dicker, wlio said that a number of slot meters had been installed and the system would he extended, and the position should be greatly improved. The chief trouble was that people were usually only resident for a short period or the buildings were shut up. Employers’ Association. —The Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association wrote suggesting that the Board should join the Association. Air Dicker explained the advantages of memit i ship and said the fee would he £G. On the motion of Air Spence, seconded by Air Burrett. the Board decided to join the Association.

Air Smith, manager of a proposed new factory to be erected at 'l.e Teko for the manufacture of wood products. applied for a power supply: Air Dicker said the factory would manufacture pegs and skewers. The board had to submit particulars of the suggested power line to the P. and. I. Department and also the Public "Works Department. Objections were raised by the P. and T. D&partm&nt as the power line would rim parallel to the Rotorua-Wliakatano toll line. It- would be necessary to earth the whole of the power line. Over a month had been lost in awaiting a reply from the Department, The line could have been built in that time The engineer said .the.proposed new industry was a sound one. Negotiations were, leit in tiie hands of the engineer.

Report.— rii referring to the engineer’s report. Air Al'axwcll referred to the. number of shut-downs in the Ba> of Plenty area and said he had heard that ether districts did not have such a nuuiber of shutdowns. Air .Jlickei explained that the board had a ver\ long supply line, while most othei boards were close to. the supply of power. He had particularly asked the Public- Works to do everything possible at the present time, to have as little inconvenience as possible during the milking season. Air. Spence asked the engineer if, the duplicate lino would be over the present route. AllDicker. in reply, said: the route would be the same -but the wires would be on separate poles. , ; Supplies. —Air Dicker referred to the necessity of securing ample supplies of materials and said lie badpurchased a number of tons of copper as the market appeared to’be favourable and there was always the chance of being held up through inability to secure supplies. The hoard approved the engineer’s action. Mr Dicker said that he was still having difficulty in having orders, foxpoles filled. He lmd enough for the. Alanawaliat* extension. All- Bun ett referred to concrete poles but All Dicker said there was difficulty in securing steel, while the gravel in the Bay of Plenty was too soft. : A new type of pole had been designed- and was being manufactured by a Hamilton man and some of these ueie being purchased by the Central Power Board. An Opotiki member stated tluit suitable gravel could bo obtained frrtm the \Vaioek,a crusher.

Power Line in Gorge. Al.r Dicker referred to the request for a power line through the Waimana Gorge and said sufficient guarantee could not be secured. In the event of the gorge being used as the rail route the P.AV.IX might possibly require a. supply of power. If the suggested tunnel scheme went thorugh the Department would want power. When in Wellington he had made inquiries and had been informed, that in the event of the gorge being xfsed, for the railway some of the present' highway route would lie utilised and a new -highway would, have to be, ccn-

strutted. 1 Members of the board agreed that the estimated revenue was too low. Air Spence said that until the rail route was decided on they could not -do -anything in the matter. ENGINEER-MANAGER’S REPORT Air J. D. Dicker, engineer-manager to the Bay of Plenty Power Board, submitted the following report for Alay and June at yesterday’s meeting of the Board:— Line Erection. —18 route chains 400 volt line on 11,000 volt lines erected: Nine route chains 400 volt line erected. Alterations to the Board’s lines and the erection and later the dismantling of temporary 11,000 volt construction to enable the carrying out of special work entailed, in' fitting tlie new switchgear in the P.W.D. siib-stations. This work is well in hand a n d should he completed towards the end of July. One outdoor air break switch erected on the cable structure Waiotahi sub.

Manawalie. —A further 2;f route miles of 11,000 volt line has been ereetod: Also the. contract for tree cutting is completed.

Consumers’ Service Lines. —37 new service lines erected totalling 123.15 route chains of line. Also 1 service of 5.7 chains removed, 1 service re-' -arranged and 1 rebuilt due to damage caused by storm. Line Maintenance. —Tree cutting in various sections of the board’s area. During the above period several insulators failed causing power interruptions to the aieas affected, in one instance breaking the 11,000 volt line at the point, of attachment to the insulator.

Further interruptions were caused during heavy gales by the hark of gum Jtrees being blown on to the lines. The bark had to be removed before power supply could be restored. ] 5' k.via.a transformer replaced bv a 15 k.v.a. due to increased load. A start ’lias 'been made on the annual earth testing. Afaintenance Services. —11 consumers’ services overhauled and repaired. This work required the replacement of 3 poles. ■Consumers Connected to 30th. Juno, 1933 (During the past two months). —Ranges 5 k.w. and; over, 5 new connections, 2 re-connections, 3 dis-eun-iioctions, 550 total to' date, 519 corresponding period 1937. Ranges, 2 k. w. up to 5 k.w. 2,0, 0, 1 2, 04. Ranges, total 7. 2.2, 628, 583. Alotors (excluding milking and hulk supply) 4, 1,1, 148, 123. Shops and offices, 1, 2,1, 231, 224. Houses, 23, 11, 10, 1600,’ 1509. Pumps, 1,1, 2, 388. 352. Dairy water heaters 1, 3. 8. 531, 52/. Domestic water heaters 7,0, 3, 021, 573. Total water heaters S, 9, H- 1•* 152. 1100. Alilking plants 1, 4. 7, 020. 008. Separator motors 1,0, 3, 341, 324. Total consumers 14, 2,0, 18*22, 1747. Total connected load 8209 k.w., 7878 k.w.

P.W.D. Supply.— For the above two months there was one pre-arranged shut-down of 2 hours 36 mins.

General. —I regret to have to report that due to a storm on the lltli. June, one wire of the service line to the icsidencc of O. Ohapata, Paroa, broke and killed two- oi his cows.

An inspection indicated that -be line had been correctly erected and conformed to the requirements of the regulations. 1 have tabled . correspondence in connection with the case which eatl he discussed by the Board at this meeting.

Labour.—l am experiencing extreme difficulty in obtaining suitable staff to cope with the work on hantT, and at the same time handle the necessary maintenance. 'I be position is now acute and to assist in alleviating the difficulty L have arranged with the Waimea Power Board to secure the services of several of its linesmen for a period oi approximately two months on the understanding thac they are returned to Waimea.. .1 hu-e men have arrived hi the district end are working on the Alanawal.e extension. Details of the arrangement are the subject of n separate report. The WTiakatane Paper Alills Ltd.— In the course of further negotiations the power requirements of the company have been defined, and the hoard’s tariff and conditions are set out in a separate report. Dominion Award. —As instructed by the Board 1 attended a conference of ■representatives of supply authorities held in Wellington, and will submit a verbal report during the .course of the meeting. . ■ Supply to Whakataue ‘Borough: During the above period satisfactory progress has been made with the election of the tie line and equipment to give .supply to the borough. h rom present indications the line should he completed and ready for service about the 16th. of. July. I - . A