POWER BOARD MEETS.

Shannon News, 21 September 1923, Page 3

POWER BOARD MEETS.

PROGRESS OF WORKS. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board was held in the Borough Chambers on Tuesday, Mr G. AT. Monk, chairman of the Board!, presiding. Also present, Messrs A. A. Brown, A. Ross, D. W. Matheson, C. Kilsby, W.> H. Gunning and W. Barber.

HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT RATE. Samuel Brown, Ltd., wrote in answer to the Board’s inquiry as (to the addition,of Harbour Board Improvement rate to the charge on poles, stating), that this charge was extra to, and not including freight, but was collected by the shipping company at the (time thlait freight was paid. In their agreement this was not included in the charges payable.

The chairman said that this seemed to be wrong somewhere, and. in his opinion should be inquired into. The Secretory pointed out that according to their agreement the shipper paid everything until the poles landed. This, however, was not included in th/e c.i.f. and (e„ under which they were getting their poles landed, and that as soon as the poles landed It would appear that they were chargeable. Mr Ross said that /this was not usual. He had never heard of it before, and they should have been advised of it before arrangements were made. The chairman said he did not think they should take this lying down. The charge was only 5s on 500 feeit, but i/t now totalled £54 on the timber landed. He would make inquiries as to what other Boards were doing. He moved that the matter be held over until next meeting to allow of this being done.—Carried. PROTECTIVE RAILWAY TARIFF.

The General Engineer of Railways, wrojte us follows: —“With reference t.o your memorandum regarding the difference in the rate for conveyance of Australian timber and poles as compared with New Zealand grown timber. I have to inform you that it has been the policy of the Department. for many years to charge a lower rate for the conveyance of local than for imported products. This has enabled the railways to be used in the direction of developing thie natural resources and industries of the Dominion. Any alteration in the direction of levelling up the freights would be strongly opposed by those interested in the (timber industry in the Dominion. It has also to he home in mind that the hardwood timber is much heavier than New Zealand grown, consequently only a smaller quantity can toe loaded into each, waggon.'. Ini (addition the_ ro/easuhement of the poles for railage purposes is workled out on Hopper’s table for round logs, and this is considerably less in superficial feet than the actual contents. Round logs actually contain about 20 per cent, more timber than is shown in the table and consequently the Power Boards are not called upon, /to pay for the: full measurement railed. I regret, therefore, that I cannot; agree to 'any re-, duction in the rates for electric poles.” . . The chairman said that it appeared that they could not go any further with this at present.. The authorities had said no. He moved that the letter be received—Agreed to.

WIRING HOUSES IN CONSTRUCTION Mr W. H. iPercival, builder, of Otaki, wrote stating that he was erecting a house for a client, who wished to have electric light installed, and asking if the Board intended to do wiring. If so he would leave the Walls in such a condition as to allow of (the wiring being done. The clerk explained that a letter had been sent to the effect that the Board did not inend to do wiring if reasonable competition offered. In the ease of a wooden house the owner was advised to. wait until the group system! was in operation, as this would be so much cheaper. In that of brick or concrete houses it would be better to get the reticulation done as the work proceeded 1 . Mr Barber said that there was a good deal of doubt, about wlha,t the Board intended to do in this respect. There were a. number of houses being built, and people were rather concerned as to whether, if the houses were finished, there would be any damage done in the process of wiring lafer on. . ~ . Mr Brown said that m the case of brick and concrete houses people might be allowed to go ahead sublet to the Board’s approval of the P The chairman said- thait, they were acting under the Engineer’s recommendation, in sending the reply they had. They now had a reticulation officer from whom people might ob-* tain all information and he would move that the matter be left, m the -hands of the Engineer.—Agreed. STREET LIGHTING. Messrs Carrick, Wedderspoon,, Ltd., acknowledged the Board’s acceptance of their tender for streiet lamps—Received. . Mr Kilsbv asked if it, would be Dossible for the Board to supply (Ynki with 10 all-night lamps, the remainder to be alight until midnight only. ~ , The Engineer said they would have to make some extra charge in such n case. He would go into' the matter and give a definite reply later. CHARGE FOR COOKING. - The chairman said that after carefully fining into the question of the charges for electric cooking and heating,/'it wns now recommended that the minimum charge in such eases he

deduced to 10s per month.—Agreed to. Accounts amounting to £5128 18s sd, including payment for poles £lOlB, copper wire £1226 18s lOd, imprest account, £683 8s lid, etc., were passed for payment. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer reported : Buildings: The residence at Mako Mako road is now occupied by the line foreman (Mr Walker). Fences, paths, etc., are now being done. Plans and specifications for the Shannon sub-station are ready. Two plans are submitted in order that yon nia,y select one suitable for the substation' attendant’s residence. When this latter building is decided upon, I would like ip proceed in calling tenders for the erection of both buildings.

Contracts: In regard to contract No. 10 for transformers. I would advise that same be referred to a committee of the Board, with power to act.

Contract No. 6 for copper .wire has been ordered in various stages and the original quantities and schedule of delivery has been duly advised to the contractors. Since last meeting; a small shipment of poles came to hand, 54 all told, which were up to the specification and passed satisfactorily. A quantity of cross-arm timber has also been' received, making a total to date of 12.679 feet.

Pole Carting: The lorry has not been used very continuously on account of doing other special carting work, besides interruptions due to bad weather. A total of 253 poles were carted out on the main South line and thirty in the Borough of Shannon.

Line erection: Pole erecting between T.evin and Shannon is now complete. Number 1 gang is engaged in the Shannon Borough on the local. reticulation.. A second pole gang ha? commenced work at Weraroa and will work through the southern portion of the district, doing the Borough of Otaki en route. Grouping and Installations: A commencement (has been made on the Board’s grouping system, and a group is at present being formed in Shannon: good results have hpon obtained so far and I have reason to believe that the ratepayers of this district will assist the Board in every way possible in order to develop their own electrical scheme. When the group is filled up I would like authority to call tenders for the work. In this connection I would advise a resolution of the Board to the effect that interest on moneys advanced to consumers for Installations be not collected until the date of switching on of electricity takes place. Street Lighting: Approval has now been received from the Borough Councils of Levin and Foxton for the numbers and position of lamps required. by them. Levin will take 80 lights iand Foxton 44 —Otaki and Shannon have already been'settled. Transport; In accordance with instructions received at last meeting I ordered a Ford car and a one-ton truck; the former is now in use and the latter is waiting to have the. body iand hood fixed. I find that it is necessary to have a means of conveyance for i/he installation jinspecior, and I would like authority to purchase another Ford car for his use. In connection with the Shannon sub-station attendant’s cottage, the chairman said he was against building houses as a general rule. There was evidently a. necessity for a, house m Shannon and this was quite in order, but in all other eases he was against it. They had one house in Levin at present, and he that they should be content with this. Mr Ross supported this. He thought the report in this connection should be adopted. The matter hjad been, gone into at last meeting and they could now go into the question of the type of building necessary. The clerk pointed out that a Committee consisting of the Engineer, Mr Gunning and himself had visited the place and decided that it was absolutely necessary in this case to build. The following resolution was then adopted: “That the Engineer’s report. he adopted and that the minimum charge for cooking and heating be 10s per month, instead of 20s per month as set out in the schedule of charges. ________ , * ,* ; -