HOROWHENUA POWER SCHEME.

Shannon News, 22 December 1922, Page 2

HOROWHENUA POWER SCHEME.

MEETING OF BOARD. The Horowhenua Power Board met on Tuesday. Present: Messrs. G. A. Monk (chairman), W. H. Gunning, A. Seifert, A. McKay, A. A. Brown, F. D. Whibley, W. E. Barber and D.' W. Matheson.

CHARGE FOR POWER

The Ashburton Power Board brought under the notice of the Horo-

whenua Board its position with the Public Works Department regarding the basis of charge for current from the Coleridge station. The Ashburton Board proposed in the first place to receive supply at Methven in the west and Ashburton in the centre. No "question had ever been raised by the Department' against supplying at those centres on the route' of its transmission line. After the Board had fixed and circulated to the country its charges for current, the Department without previous indication sent the Board two agreements for supply, charging one maximum demand at Methven and another maximum demand at Ashburton, unexpectedly increasing the Board’s expenses for current by several hundreds of pounds per annum and up-setting-the whole basis of the Board’s rates to consumers. The Board considered the district was being treated unfairly and had passed a resolution protesting against the* Department’s unfair charges, and asked the Horowhenua Board to support it. The chairman said he thought Horowhenua would be in a similar position as Ashburton as to the distribution ‘/of supply. The Department was treating Ashburton as two Boards, which he did not think right, particularly as maximum charges were being made in each case. The question of charges bad not been settled so far as Horowhenua was' concerned. Mr Matheson said if the rate of charge had been previously fixed it was not fair to increase it now.

Mr Overton, the Board’s Engineer, explained it was a question for the Department to determine which was the better way to distribute supply—it may be cheaper to- supply from twopoints or otherwise as suited each district.

The chairman said the Department had not objected to Ashburton having two points of supply.

Engineer added that the Department would be put. to extra cost by giving a second point of supply, and wpulcl charge -accordingly. , „

Mr Matheson moved that the letter be received as ti seemed a question for Ashburton to fight out for themselves. The motion was carried. The Engineer said that the same question had been raised by the South Auckland Power Board, but the Department would make no alteration in its charge. The Danne.virke Board also wrote re the system of charging for power, and stated that at the conference of Boards in Wellington in September last it had submitted a remit to the effect that the system of charging' for power at £lO peh k.v.a. for the first 200 k.v.a. bore heavily on the new and smaller boards and* should be abolished. The remit had been carried, but the Minister had not seen his way to give any indication ihat the wishes of the Conference would be acceded to.

The chairman said if they could get power at lower prices they should support the Dannevirke Board. He would move to that effect.

Mr Seifert said if the Departments policy was to prevent very small Board’s being formed it might be a good thing.

Mr Matheson moved that the letter be received. This was seconded by JVIr Gunning and carried.

OTHER BUSINESS

Messrs. Levin and Co. wrote offering their shipping facilities to the Board if it was intended to receive poles through transhipment via Foxton.

The matter was referred to the Engineer, who stated it was quite possible to get some of the pole? cheaper through Foxton. Transhipment would have to take place; in Wellington. The Public Works Department forwarded an Order-in-Council authorising the Board to erect electric lines in terms of the Public Works Amendment, Act, 1911. In moving that, the letter be received, the chairman said Ihe Engineer should be commended in pushing matters so well forward with the various Government departments that the present satisfactory position had been reached. Messrs. A. C. Brown, hardwood merchants, Newcastle, wrote acknowledging the acceptance of his firm’s tender for the supply of a quantity of poles for which, they thanked the Board.

Accounts amounting to £229 4/4 were passed for payment.

ENGINEER’S REPORT

The Board’s Engineer (Mr T. R

Overtop) reported:—

Licenses: The necessary authorising order and license to reticulate the district has been gazetted, and immediately material comes to hand we shall be in a position to commence construction.

Buildings—l have engaged an architectural draughtsman to draw plans and supervise the erection of stores, workshop, cottages, etc., ion the Board’s sections. Tenders will be called for the workshops and stores at the earliest date possible. Owing ‘to wet weather considerable delay in completing the surveys of the sections has occurred,. Working Plans.—Routes- of the main lines between the boroughs are now pegged, and at the present time information is being collected in connection with street lighting requirements for' each borough. The Shannon Borough Council has already adopted the scheme of lighting to be installed in Shannon.

Tools for Construction Gangs.— Lists of tools which will ’be required have been circulated amongst hardware firms. Lists for the workshops and special' tools are in preparation, and I would like authority to proceed in the purchase of sarnie. Contracts.—it is intended to eail tenders tor the Board's requirements in respect to wire, transformers uid switclr-gear early in the New Year. Pole carting equipment and the appointment of agents for the forwarding of poles from Wellington will have to be dealt with, probably before next meeting, and 1 would suggest a small committee with power to act be set up. for the purpose. Contracts for the supply in insulators and pins close on January 10.

Mr Overton stated that Mr M. Varnham was the draughtsman who had been engaged, and he commenced duty on Monday. The report was adopted, and a subcommittee consisting of the chairman and Messi’s. Matheson and Brown was set up as suggested by the Engineer. In reply to Mr Matheson, the Engineer said in regard to the lighting of Shannon Borough, he had ascertained with the borough required and had conferred with the Borough Council. The work would be done under his plans. There would be 40 lights altogether.

Mr Matheson: I take it that will he the policy in all the boroughs? The Engineer: Yes, I will go to each of the boroughs and get tfeir requirements. Mr Matheson said that was very satisfactory.