ELECTRIC POWER POLES.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 245, 12 July 1928, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER POLES.

BY BOARD. Eugenioides Doing Well. A little over three years ago the Thames Valley Power Board decided -to experiment and find out which %pecies of eucalyptus tree made the most satisfactory power pole and which preparation preserved the timber in the ground the longest. A plot of ground" on the chairman’s farm, Mangaiti, was used for the purpose, and in all 103 logs were erected and tabulated. Six different varieties of eucalyptus were used, the trees being obtained from the Forestry Department, Rotorua. Some of the logs were treated with creosote and tar and other preparations, thirty •different methods being 'used, while others were erected without any treatment. The members of the board, accompanied by the engineer and manager, ■yisited the plot on Tuesday and made -observations on the condition of the -different poles and treatment. Generally speaking poles that had been -"x ‘treated were in better condition than poles that had not been treated. The engineer said that this fact should no be taken as conclusive as when the treated poles started to decay that might go quicker than the untreated ones. The most satisfactory

seemed to be two coats of ’hot creosote compound, poles thus treated showing the best condition l after three years. Included in the plot were a number of eucalyptus eugenioides, of which •£}}(. Power Board has planted a large area at Kerepeehi for future requirements. This variety stood up to the ■ experiment very well, particularly the stumps treated with the creosote (Compound.