HOROWHENUA ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Shannon News, 22 June 1923, Page 2

HOROWHENUA ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The Horo.whenua Electric Power Board met on Tuesday in Levin, present; The chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) and Messrs D .W. Matheson, W. H. Gunning, A. Seifert, McKay, G. Kilsby, Barber, A. Ross and A. A. Brown. A letter from the Chief Electrical Engineer stated that the Board’s supply of power would be metered at Mangahao instead of the sub-station at Shannon and tihe Board would have to undertake the maintenance of the supply line from Mangahao to Shannon. "

The Board’s Engineer stated that the Board would have to supply power between Mangahao and Shannon. The matter was left to the Engineer to deal with. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer reported a® follows; Buildings.—-The concrete petrol and oil store is well under way, and. a carpenter ha® been, engaged to erect benches and shelter sheds for saw bench and black smith’s- forge. The contractor for the 'brick residence is now making good progress; the bricklaying is completed and the roof will be on in the course of a few' days. It is expected that this contract- will be finished in about a month’s time. Tenders and Contracts.—A price has been received for the wiring installation of the brick residence. I would recommend that. the offer made by Mr W. A. Jenson, of Levin, for the

sum of £27 10s be accepted.—l have been notified by Messrs P. R. Baillie and. Go-., Ltd., that they have forwarded the order fords tons of copper to their principals hut that so far no official acceptance has been received. —J. A. Redpath and Sons, Christchurch, have sent forward a quantity of insulators in pursuance of contract No. 4 for 10-w tension insulators and ironwork. —Messrs Laurence and Hanson, Wellington, notify having forwarded .practically the whole quantity of high tension insulators and ironwork ini' respect to contract No. 13. Street Lighting, Shannon Borough Council. —In the present circumstances it is impossible for this Board to do anything of a useful nature in. this matter* during this present winter. Next March, however, when the Borough reticulation, is far enough ' advanced and no power obtainable from the Mangahao- steam set-, I would recommend that the question be again brought forward with a view to ’■& temporary 'plant being installed. Flax-mill Tests.—Under directions given by the Board, I propose making experiments at the Wairoa Flaxmill Company’s mill. Mr Ross, the Managing Director, has kindly consented t-o this being done, and .although the distance is considerable, a supply of electricity suich as we shall have for this district, is available, with a plant actually in operation, I am of opinion that this course will 'be "found more economical than temporarily altering one of the local plants for the purpose. Pole Carting.—The weather has been greatly against full time work in connection with this job. The Foxton dump has been cleared and the carting -equipment shifted to Shannon where good progress has been made, and since last meeting over 300 poles have been laid out. , Line Foreman- and Installation Inspector.—As already foreshadowed it will soon be necessary to fill these two positions. In reference- to that of line foreman, I would, like authority to offer a weekly wage at the rate of £3OO per annum', duiring the period of construction the appointee to occupy, the Engineer’s residence now being erected, rent free; further, that a sum of £25 shifting allowance be made, subject to the -recommendation of the Electrical Engineer, after the expiraition of three months’ service.—With regard to the Installation. Inspector, It will be necessary in the meantime to use this particular officer to canvass the district and proceed in the formaition of groups, using the official application forms and getting sarnie signed up. At the- same time that this is being done particulars of the instailatiidhsi required could be collected so that group contracts may be let. During the period l of construction I would recommend .that the weekly wage l of this officer be at the 1 rate of £3OO per annum. General.—Quantities of stores have come forward and have been taken into stock, including a 6 h.p. kerosene engine for the workshop. An order has been placed with Milne’s Garage for the supply of a -one-ton Ford truck. The workshop machinery ia,nd tools are being assembled and a commencement will shortly be made to distribute material for outside constructional work. The Engineer’s report was adopted. Messrs Seifert, Ro-ss alnd. Brown were appointed a committee to act with the Engineer in connection with the proposed flaxmill tests. Mri Ross suggested' that all the menu bers of the Board go* to Wairoa as they would, be able to- get ia certain amoufnt of data! that would be obtainable. He 'also suggested that prominent flaxmillers be asked to go. The Chairman said he agreed that the flaxmillers should be given an opportunity of going though not- as the guests of the Board. He favoured a small committee going rather than; the whole BoardMessrs Matheson and Seifert con-

sidered that the tests at Wairoa were

' experimental for the present and that 1 therefore there was no necessity for j more than: the Engineer and -.Commit-. | tee to make the 1 visit. ' This was agreed to. i PENAL. FREIGHT ON POLES. I Mr Brown brought up the matter I referred, to at the previous meeting of the 20 per cent, additional freight now charged by the railways dn Australian hardwood to give some protection to New Zealand timber. He considered the Board, 'should approach the Minister on the subject in conjunction with other Boards 1 . The ch,airmen said there was little hope of getting it altered but. the matter was down for consideration at the proposed 1 conference of Boards. Accounts totalling £4408 were passed for paymeiit.