THAMES VALLEY POWER BOARD

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 58, 4 December 1924, Page 2

THAMES VALLEY POWER BOARD

THE DECEMBER MEETING, f i The Thames Valley Electric Power Board met at Te Aroha on Tuesday, there being- present: Messrs. F. H. Claxton (chairman, Thames), F. M. Strange (Piako county), J. B. Thomas (Piako county), J. Pohlen (Matamata county), W. E. G. Willey (Hauraki f Plains county), F. E. Flatt (Paeroa borough), P. Grace (Ohinemurl county), and C. A. Arthur (Te Aroha borough). Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. G. Howie (Morrinsville borough) and J. McCormick (Thames county). CHRISTMAS SUPPLIES. The N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd., wrote asking if the board intended to shut down with electric power during* the Christmas holidays. The chairman did not anticipate any deliberate shut down. A DANGEROUS POLE. A letter from the Waihi Borough Council maintained a pole at a corner was dangerous to traffic. It was decided to provide a light for that particular pole, by transferring a light from the opposite side of the street. OVERHANGING TREES. The district engineer, N.Z. Railway Department, wrote in reply to the board’s complaint about the gum trees at the Hinuera railway station, and advising that as the trees were growing on the opposite side of the road to the board’s power lines there was no fear of the trees fouling the wires, and the .request to have them cut down was therefore declined. Mr. Pohlen said that some of these trees were very tall, and if blown over would no doubt reach the Power Board’s pole. Mr. Thomas did not think there was much risk of g-um trees up-root-ing. GUARANTEE, FOR JLLAXMTIJL. Mr. George Smerle, Kaihere, advised that the maximum amount for power that could be guaranteed at the present time was from £l5O to £IBO, and that he expected to commence flax milling operations about August or September of next year, when it was hoped to mill at least one hundred tons of fibre from one plantation. Mr. D. Hunter, Patetonga, wrote stating that he was not prepared to sign up for electricity at Patetonga for flaxmilling purposes at the rate of £250 a year for five years. The power was badly required, but he was not prepared to sign such a huge guarantee, as the danger of fire, and risk generally to flaxmillers was too great. The chairman said that these matters relied on the Department’s additional supplies, and suggested that the matter be deferred. This suggestion was adopted. QUOTATION ON POLES. The secretary, Fire Council, Paeroa, wrote asking for a quotation for eight poles, each 35ft in length, for* the purpose of erecting towers on which to place its fire bells. It was decided to supply the poles at cost price TROTJBLEMEN’S HOUSES. Mr. Strange moved that the resolution carried at a previous meeting* that all the cottages be built of heart of totara be rescinded. Mr. Willey seconded. The chairman remarked that if the board was unanimous there would be no need for a notice of motion. The motion was carried unanimously. The finance committee agreed to accept the tender of Messrs. Heathcote Bros, for the erection of troublemen’s cottages at Te Aroha and Paeroa, the prices being: Te Aroha £733, and Paeroa £753. It was decided that tenders for Tirau and Ngatea cottages be again advertised, to close in time for consideration at the February meeting. WAIHI BOROUGH. It was decided to add the Waihi borough to the board’s outer area, and consideration of charges for this area was left to another meeting. TAUHEI SUPPLY. Mr. A. E. Gee, of Tauhei, writing on behalf of Messrs. Campbell Browne, Taylor and_ himself, asked when they coufef. expect a supply of power. It was rumoured that the power would not be available before the autumn, and if that were the case he would have to instal a new engine and dismiss the idea of taking the electric, power. It would only take seven poles to connect his shed from the present line.' The engineer said that the board could supply Mr. Gee shortly, and the poles could be sent out this week. ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment as follows: Power account, £3447 5s j 2d; lighting, £445S 11s lid; total, £7905 17s Id. COOKING CHARGES. The engineers’ recommendation in connection with the revised tariff for cooking pusposes was adopted.

TRADING BY POWER BOARDS, j The Prime Minister acknowledged ; receipt of the board’s letter stating j that it understood a deputation con- j sisting of the Electrical Traders’ Fed- I eration, together with the Wellington I Chamber of Commerce, propose!! waiting upon him to lodge a protest against Power Boards being allowed to operate as provided for in section 90 of the Electric Power Boards Act, 1918. In reply the Prime Minister said that so far no request had been made to him to receive such a deputation, but he would be glad, nevertheless, to hear the boards’ representations in mind for consideration at the proper time. The N.Z. Electrical Traders’ Federation wrote intimating that it was the policy of the organisation to work in conjunction with the power boards in an effort to increase the public demand for electric power. A request was made for a copy of the board’s balance sheets since the inception of the board. The letter was received. AUDIT OF BALANCE-SHEET. Mr. Flatt asked if it was possible to obtain a certified copy “of the board’s balance-sheet yet. The chairman replied that the auditors were now working on it, and it would probably be three months before the balance-sheet was available. Mr. Flatt contended that it would be over ten months since the balance , was taken, and the delay was “ over the odds.” The chairman said that the delay could not be avoided. Representations had been made to the Audit Department to have the work expedited. The members had already been given a copy of the. balance-sheet, which had not been audited, and that was all that could be done at present. SPEED OF MOTORS. Mr. Willy said that he had received a complaint from a consumer on the Hopai road to the effect that his milking motor was travelling at ji much higher- speed than the speed in"chcated on the makers’ name plate. As a result the grade of cream had been considerably lowered. Mr. Willy asked if any adjustment to the transformer would remedy the defect. In reply, Mr. McLeod said that it appeared to him that the pully ratio was not quite correct. Motors could not, theoretically, travel at a faster rate than 1500 revolutions per minute and actually not more than 1400-re-volutions. The increased rate had nothing- whatever to do with the transformers. It was a matter of pulley ratio adjustment. At the request of Mr. Willey the engineer said that he would look into the matter when he was in the district.