ELECTRIC POWER WORKS.

Putaruru Press, Volume I, Issue 5, 15 November 1923, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER WORKS.

IN THAME? VALUEV

I’rogic.ss of Fast Month

Thu progress of the Thames Valley Electric I'o .-r Board's works tor the past month was set out in reports tabled by the manager (Mr. R. Sprague) and the engineers (Messrs. Gauvain and McLeod) at Tuesday's meeting- of the board at Tc Ai-olia. MANAGER’S REPORT. The manager reported as follows: — Transformers. The transformers ordered from Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., arrived at Te Aroha on the 26th. They were immediately dried out and most of them are in operation on the lines. Owing to various causes Ferranti Co. were unable lo ship their transformers .until October 31.

Street Lighting.—The Turua Town Board lias now arranged for the erection of 15 street lights at Turua. The erection of the balance started on Monday and should be completed by the end of the week. Waikino. —The reticulation of this town should be completed within the next two weeks. A start lias also been made on the installations of houses and this also should he completed at an early date. T would suggest that the board in-

?tal earth detectors on the Paeroa rower similar to those installed at the

sub-station at Waikino. Power Account. —1 have made application to the Public Works Department, Hamilton, for a reduction in the account for power supplied during the quarter ended September 30. There is a letter before you this day with reference to cbe application, for vour instructions.

Consumers.—The total number of consumers connected for the month ended October 31 was 2287. Consumers in Thames and Tc Aroha boroughs are not included. There are now 804 motors connected to date, of

which 700 are 2-h.p. milking motors. A very great demand is now coming for water heaters and those al ready installed are giving every satisfaction to the farmers. The canvasser is now impressing

upon the ratepayers the necessity forgetting- connected to the line before March 31 in order to,avoid the paying of non-consumer’s rate, which

will be operating on April 1 next. Power Charges.—T l would like to suggest that the Minister of Public Works be approached with regard to reducing the charges for electricity supplied by the department to _ the board. The purchase of electricity will he in the vicinity of £IG,OOO pciannum by the board, i There is no

question whatsoever hut that the' denartment can reduce the charges on the face of Horahora* now being- a paying proposition to the department. ENGINEERS’ LftIPORT.

The engineers reported as follows: Hauraki Plains Sectrob. —The majority of the work don? op this section during the month has? been in connection with service lines .apd it has been necessary to extend the board’s lowtensicn lines for a distance of about 42 miles to give a supply. Mangateparu. The A high - tension line to Tauhci was made alive on October 10 and consumers at Tauhci connected up on the following day. A branch line is being constructed along Scott’s road on the Alanfeateparu settlement and it is hoped, to have this extension ready for service by the middle of tire month. M-pumaolio.—The wiring of tho remaining three miles of high-tension circuit to Motumaoho factory has been completed and in addition three stretches of low-tension lines, l-epre-sentinc a total of 32 miles, have been wired on this section. Service poles have been erected on a number of

farms and other details. Kereone and Scott’s Roads.— The pole lines on both r-oads have been completed and two transformer struc-

tures on each road have been constructed. -•£ Manawaru.—On the northern section of Alexandra road 2i miles of high-tension and one mile of lowtension circuit have been wired. On Steel’s road one mile of high-tension and half a mile of low-tension wiring has been completed and it is hoped to have the transformer ready for a supply in a few days’ time. Clarkin’s Quarry, Te Aroha.—The 11,000-volt branch line to this quarry was completed early in the month.

Manawaru-Gordon.—Extensions on the low-tension lines on this section are being canned out. Ngarua Road.—An additional transformer has been erected on this section to supply further consumers. Okauia.—Approximately five miles of this line is now completed, four miles of which is in service and supplying consumers. An additional transformer was made alive on October 15.

Tirau-Waiomo.—Approximately 4i miles of this line is now erected and the Tirau-Okoroire section is receiving a supply. Matamata. —The wiring of the hightension telephone circuit from this point to Te Aroha has commenced. Public Works Department.—Applications, accompanied by six sheets of drawings, have been forwarded to the Public Works Department for the inspection of transmission lines and transformer stations. The inspection will cover the following work:—2Bs miles of 11,000-volt circuit; 0 miles of 3300-volt circuit; 53 miles of 415-volt, circuit; 20 transformer stations.

General.—A large number of service lines have been constructed during the month and a good deal of the time of the gangs has been taken un in the-construction of these and connecting same up to the board’s main linos.