HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Shannon News, 20 October 1922, Page 2

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

1 OCTOBER' MEEfiNG

The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board was held in Levin on Tuesday. Present :Messrs G. A. Monk (chairman), D. W. Matheson, W. H. Gunning, Mackay, G. Kilsby, Barber, F. D. Whibley and A. A. Brown.

The Chiei Electrical Engineer forwarded reports of the recent conference of Power Board representatives. The Chairman said the conference largely dealt with the difficulties of Boards that had been in operation two years longer than this Board, but the effect would he to obviate-, some, of those difficulties when the Board-'came to them. ** '

■ Correspondence Avas received from Mr Blow, the New Zealand Government Agent in Sydney, agreeing to issue conditions of tenders for supplies that are being’ invited in Sydney.— The Board instructed that, a letter of thanks be sent to Mr Bloav for his courtesy.

SUPPLY OF POLES. Tenders for the supply of poles close in NeAv Zealand on October 24 and in Sydney on October 31. Mr A. Seifert, a member of the Board, and the Engineer, Mr Overton, -will open all tenders in Sydney and will then make inquiries regarding the quality of the poles offered, before making a, recommendation to the Board.

The chairman said the matter of the poles was very important, as they must put. the very best material into their Avork If they were going to put uf) a scheme that would be falling about their ears in ten years time, thev could expect trouble—not a pleasant prospect for the younger members of the Board. They should endeavour to put up a scheme that would last •at least as long as their loan. He had taken particular notice of some of the hardwood telegraph poles in his district ,and he knew some that had been in position quite 20 years and were still quite good. Much of the Avork in Canterbury had been done with inferior, and young timber that had grown very fast. There was' hardwood that would last 20 or ..0 years, but the majority would not last anything like that, time. There ha-Tbeen a great deal of controversy over silver pine, some engineers favouring it and others rejecting it. He Avas not favourably impressed by what he had seen used as telegraph poles. He felt authority should be given to the Board’s representatives 'to make every investigation into the quality of the timber offered. Mr Matheson said quality was the most important point. There w-as a great responsibility on the Engineei in 'regard to the matter, which he felt sure would be appreciated. Mr v Gunning said that to an outsider all classes bf Eucalypts looked alike. Certain areas produced practically all ironbark arid others only a sprinkling. The Engineer and Mr Seifert should be, empowered to get local evidence in regard to the quaItiy. ' Mr Brown said he took it that they could take the opinion, of experts. .Mr Mackay thought Messrs. Overlon and Seifert should be given fuller poAvers and should be able to accepttender^. Mr Overton said he would not like v to take the responsibility of accepting: certain ironbark, neither would Mr Seifert. If there was need for immediatedecision they would cable their recommendation to the Board. Deeisio'n in that case was left in the* hands of the Finance Committee. Mr Barber said the Board had confidence' in its representatives.

The Engineer said he looked on the matter of poles as the most difficult part of tfhe Board’s work. It would be neoessary to ascertain where the timber they were getting was grown, a nd he indicated the course that won? d be adopted to ensure that the Boar d got the best quality obtainable.