POWER BOARD OFFICE.

Otaki Mail, 17 January 1923, Page 4

POWER BOARD OFFICE.

NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN WORK SHOPS.

At the meeting of the llorowhenua Power Board on Saturday, a discussion ensued on the location of the offices and whether they should be included in the same building in which the workshops will be located.

Mr A. A. Brown stated that he had received a letter from Mr A. Mackay, ■it Paekakariki, a member ol the Board, who was unable to be present that day. Mr Mackay wished to move, that the Engineer be instructed to include or add to plans for workshops and cottages as previously instructed, plans for ol'lices and boardroom, etc., and to provide alternative estimates for building iti brick and reinforced concrete, and report to next meeting. The Chairman (Mr C. A. Monk, said he was personally ol opinion that the Board's offices should be as central as possible. They should consider the public a little, and a central office should be secured for that reason. Mr U.' W. Matheson said the. Borough Council "had in mind the building ol offices tu Levin, and if the Rower Board would gel an estimate ol what it requited in the way of office accommodation it was the thing the Council wanted. He did not think there was a hope of the Board building cheaper than the Council, and did not agree with the erection of offices at Weraroa. The ol'lices should be sentral and convenient to the business quarter of the town. Mr A. Seifert agreed with the Chairman that tiie public should be considered and the ol'lices erected as centra! as possible, lie asked if the Engineer had sufficient accommodation

ai present. Hie Engineer said he .had for the present, but an extension would be required at an early date. The chairman said Mr Mackay's idea oi bringing the matter up was apparently to save money, but they had to look further than that.

Mr C. Kilsby said the Board should build its own offices and place them at Weraroa, where they would be convenient, lor the outside people as well as those ol Levin. Ii was a question that wanted going into thoroughly. Centralisation, so fai as their buildings were concerned, was important. The Chairman said il the Board decided to have its offices at Weraroa, they should be in a separate building, and not as part oi the workshop. Mr W. 11. Gunning supported having the ottices in a central position in the busmess pan ot the town. If, however, they were put on the Weraroa ground, they shoulcTbe in a separate building. In any ea=o, Weraroa was not the place for offices. .Mr Brown pointed out that Mr Mackay only asked lor plans ol offices and boardrotu, not for tiie erection ol them.

The Chairman said the point the Board should settle right away was should they include the offices in the storeroom at Weraioa.

Mr Matheson moved, and Mr Seller! seconded, that the offices be not included in the storeroom. This was rained unanimously. Mr Blown said .the motion passed did not touch Mr Mackay's proposition, and he moved it accordingly on Mr Mackay's behalf. Mr Barber said the point whether ihe offices should be built on the land they had purchased or placed in Levin shoufa !&"settled.

Mr Matheson again referred to the Borough Council and its building proposals. It would expedite matters and be ot assistance if the Board could state definitely what its office requirements w-ould be.

It was then decided that the Engineer and secretary go into the question of office accommodation required, and that the architect be asked to prepare a sketch plan for next meeting. OTHER BUSINESS. Mr Kilsby asked, on behalf ol the ptaki Borough Council, whether there was any likelihood of the Board purchasing the motor ambulance which the Council had for sale.

The Engineer said he had not had time to inspect it, but would do so at the first opportunity.

'The question of "tire purchase of a site for the Shannon sub-station was left to Messrs. Gunning, Seifert and the Engineer, with power to act.