POWER BOARD POLES.

Shannon News, 8 December 1922, Page 3

POWER BOARD POLES.

TENDERS AGGREGATING £12,136 17/6 ACCEPTED.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board, the report of the Engineer (Mr Overton) on his recent visit to Australia was received, with a recommendation for the acceptance of tenders for the poles to carry out the reticulation of the Board’s district The purchases involve an expenditure of approximately £12,136 17/6. INVESTIGATION IN AUSTRALIA. The Engineer’s report is as follows:

According to instructions received at the last meeting of the Board, I proceeded to Australia, leaving here on . the 25th of last month, and arrived in Sydney on the 30th, joining Mr Seilert as arranged on the 31st. We commenced that afternoon upon the business of our contracts, and the investigations took us in the first instance to the New South Wales Forestry Commission. We spent the afternoon *n conversation with the Assistant Chief Timber Inspector, and were given a large abount of- valuable data verbally as well as in booklet form covering Australian hardwoods. After cuestioning the expert concerning our .own particular specifications, we were advised that no alterations were necessary except that, instead of adhering strictly to ironbark, we. may have included certain other hardwoods from specified areas with quite good results, especially in the smaller sizes in the schedule. The suggestion .vas considered carefully, but not recommended to the Board for the reason chat we desired to procure the best hardwood for main lines, and taking into account the quantities of small poles asked for, it did not warrant calling fresh tenders. New Zealand Government represen-, tative: On November .1 we interviewed Mr Blow', the Government representative in Sydney, who had charge of distributing specifications and receiving tenders on the Board’s behalf. Mr Blow' had the tenders ready in a. most complete manner to hand over to us We took possession of five tenders or Contract No. 1 and tw'o tenders *<-v Contract No. 2, and proceeded to schedule same lor comparison with those received in New Zealand. Newcastle and Port Stephen district: Arriving in Newcastle on the 3rd inst., we motored about 70 miles into the above district, which district, by the way, supplies 75 per cent of the poles now' exported from New South Wales. We, however, directed our attention chiefly to the forests having timber owned by Messrs. A. C. Brown and Flannery Bros. We spent three days walking and on horseback in the bush, covei'ing many miles and viewing the principal forests from which the tenderei’s procured their poles, besides seeing quantities of poles already at depots cut to different specifications and for use in electric-power and telegraph lines all over Australasia. Returning to Newcastle we then travelled some 300 miles up the coast in order to examine timber holdings in the Clarence and Richmond districts. After spending five days in the forests around Grafton and paying particular attention to the quality of ironbark and other hardwoods obtained in the vicinity, we returned direct to Sydney..

Tenders recommended for acceptance: After carefully reviewing notes and negotiating further with different tenderers, we decided to accept tenders as follows: —

Contract No. I.—lo poles of 40ft at 82/6 each, £4l 5/; 600 35ft at 59/, £1770; 750 35ft at 53/ £1987 10/; 750 33ft at 48/3, £IBO9 7/6; 500 30ft at 38/, £950; -250 28ft at 31/6, £393 15/; 350 24ft at 19/, £332 10/. In the last two lots 10 per cent grey gum is allowed. The total cost of 'he contract, is £7284 7/6.

Contract No. 2.—200 35ft at 62/ each, £620; 25J 35ft at 50/6, £631 5/; 350 33ft at. 42/9, £748 2/6; 500 30ft at 42/9, £IO6B 15/ (dressed); 250 28ft- at 32/9, £409 7/6; 150 24ft at‘ 20/, £150; total £3627 10/ The contracts are c.i.f. and e., Weeington. Also in same contract, 50,000 ft at 49/ per 100 ft, f.0.r., Levin, £1225. The total purcha&es amount to £12,136 17/6. It will be observed that the recommendation is to divide pole Contract No. 1 between two tenderers, chiefly on account of the better prices in cer-

of the trees in the forests, and. eecond-

ly to ensure good delivery, five hundred scraped poles have, been substituted for natural rough poles. lJiesc ( will be used in main streets m towns.-! Foxton Harbour: After making exhaustive inquiries wp were unable w get ships direct to Foxton, a matter u> ue regretted. . General: Before returning to New Zealand we had further interviews with the State Forestry inspectors regarding methods of inspection, identication of brands, etc. We also called on the State telegraph engineers and the engineers to the Sydney City Council. Aii of these gentlemen discussed porters, all of whom we have verbally hardwoods lor poles very ireeiy, and amongst the busfimen and timber expossesseu. TENDERS ACCEPTED. Te successiui tenderers were:— No. l Contract,—Samuel Brown, Ltd., Wellington (representing Flannery Bros., Roorai).

No. 2 Contract. —A. C. Brown, Newcastle, N.S.W. In moving the adoption of the report and acceptance ox the tenders, the chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) said die Board was in the hands of the gentlemen who were making the recounmi.dations. The prices, according to Mr Overton, were lower than he actually expected, which would make the cost of reticulation less. The Board >vas

quite justified in its action in sending Mr Overton)across to Australia, and it was fortunate, also, that Mr Seilert was there to give some assistance. lie uiought it wise that the report recom-‘ mended the use of grey guin on tne advice of Australian .experts. It would he useful to note how these poles stood and try them out thoroughly, it

would he seen, too', that it was recommended that dressed poles should be used in tbe boroughs, which was a good idea. Mr Overton had stated that the poles recommended were from the class of country providing the hardest poles. The motion was seconded by Mr D. W. Matheson, who said the boroughs would appreciate the. suggestion o: dressed poles lor those centres. Mr W. Barber agreed with the le port, and said additional inquiries should be made re landing the poles at

Foxton. He understood the Government intended to land poles there. Mr Overton stated the port of landing had been mentioned with the hardwood merchants in Australia-. They were suspicious of ports like Foxton with lighter drafts of water than 12ft or 13ft. Mr Brown, of Newcastle, however, promised to- go further into the matter, but he (Mr Overton) did not have much hope Of the port of Foxton being used. Mr Barber: Foxton has never had a wreck yet. In reply to' Mr A/ Mackay, the Engineer said he hafl discussed the most suitable time for the felling of the timber. Winter was the most suitable time, but there were difficulties in getting out the timber then, but this would no doubt be overcome. Messrs. A. A. Brown and W. H. Gunning supported the sending of the Board’s Engineer to Australia. Mr Gunning said he had hopes of the Foxton harbour being improved so as to handle the shipping to this district, .as it represented a big saving. The Engineer and Mr Seifert should be thanked for the work they had performed for the Board. The report was adopted.