HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Shannon News, 25 August 1922, Page 4

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The Horowhenua Electric Power

Board met in, Levin on Tuesday. Mr Monk presided, and there were also present Messrs. (Levin), Gunning (Shannon), Muekay. (Para* paraumu), Kiisby (Otaki), Barber (Manawatu), Whibley (Fuxton), Brown (Waikanae), and A. Seifert, COST OF POWER.

The Wairarapa Power Board wrote

asking if the Board would join in a deputation y to' the Minister to endeavour to get some definite statement from the Minister in regard to the

i cost of the power from Mangahao. \ The Board had received the Departmental schedule, and there was also a public statement made by the' Minister.

the interest of the People’s and CosMr Overton said the schedule they had received from the Government was exactly the same as in use in the Waikato. - There was no mention in it of a special rate over a certain amount of power, such as the Minister had stated would be allowed, The chairman said he thought some .effort should be made to form a League of Boards. It would be able to bring more pressure to bear than spasmodic efforts by sections of the Boards. POSSIBILITY OF DELAY: It was suggested that the Ministei might not be able to make a definite statement as tu cost owing to the works taking longer or costing more than was expected.

The chairman said he felt that they must get on with their reticulation and take a certain amount of risk as to whether the Public Works Depart ment was ready.

Mr Matiieson said the Boards were being absolutely forced by the Minister to be ready in time, and they were relying on the Minister’s promise tha' the power would Be available. The chairman thought there was an element of risk. There might be cucumstances over which the Department might consider it had no control. • Mr Matheson said the Board was doing its part, and if a responsible Minister took the very definite stand that the Minister for Public Works did that the power would be available at the end of 1923, he could not expect the Boards to assist him. The chairman said he did not think, from various recent statements, that there was now so much ceitainty. Mr Matheson said the last statement he saw seemed to show that the Minister was annoyed -because it was doubted that pfower would be available at j Christmas, 1923. The chairman said the cost of power wduld depend largely on the Board s administration and economic working. They might spend £50,000 and have nothing to show for it. The chairman was appointed to act with the other Boards in the matter. Speaking at a later stage, Mr Seifert said formerly there was a committee in Palmerston that watched developments. It was suggested to him that a committee be set up by tlie Boards to carry on the same- functions. It would be a serious matter if there was delay in getting the power. ; He understood the concreting, of. the'tunnels was slow work, and it should be remembered that the summer would have to be made the most of in the construction of the Mangahao dam. If it was leit till March it would be too, late and would mean waiting for next summer. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Engineer reported: Since being here I have been engaged chiefly on the loan proposal poll, and have not devoted much attention to any other important matters. Money Required. —The loan having been successfully carried, I would now recommend that £75,000 be raised as soon as convenient, in order that substantial progress may be made. Office Furniture.— -Correspondence flies, materials ior drawing and the like will be required almost immediately. / Date of Power Available. —It is necessary that the Board should be advised as to the date when supply of power will be available from Mangahao, firstly, in order that we may have our’ principal towns ready, and secondly, that we should not enter into heavy expenditure before revenue is earned. As an instance of this latter item, £75,000 spent in constructional work and idle for six months would amount in interest to £2500, in addition to other losses due to overhead expenses.

Land and Buildings.-The purchase of a site suitable for workshops and cottages should be put under way, and 1 arrangements entered into for the construction of suitable buildings ana three cottages for. employees.

Engineer’s Motor-car.—ln terms of engagement, in which a motor-car is to be provided lor use on the Board’s business, I have to report having se cured same, and would now like to make arrangements regarding maintenance and upkeep. raising the money.

Matters arising but of the Engineer’s report were considered. The Board .went into committee to discuss the matter of raising the money required under the loan authorised by th.e ratepayers. The chairman and secretary were instructed to go to Wellington and make certain inquiries in regard to raising money on the London market, and to report immediately to the Finance Committee. The matters of the Engineer’s mo-tor-car and the purchase of land and buildings were referred to the .Finance Committee with power to act, SUITABLE POLES. Mr Gunning said he noticed that another Board was talking of going in with another public body to secure a block of timber on the Main Trunk line from which silver pine poles were to be obtained for use in reticulation. The silver pine was spoken of as being very good timber, and there had been some complaints about the quality of some of the hardwoods from Australia. The Engineer said several Boards in the Waikato went into the question, but they found that when they came to get the poles out they were not suitable. The Telegraph Department had, investigated silver pine hut had reverted to iron bark. Silver pine was very brittle, and had to he dandled very carefully. Silver pine could be used for the service lines. PERMANENT OFFICES.

Mr Brown asked whether anything was being done in regard to the permanent office accommodation. Mr Matheson said the Levin Borough 1 Council’s Committee was still making inquiries, and was keen to put the matter in shape as soon p.s possible It could not be hurriedly dealt with.