HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Shannon News, 24 March 1925, Page 3

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

ENGINEER'S REPORT

At Tuesday's meting qf the Horowhenua Power boa.ru, the Engineer (Mr IV Overton) reported, as follows: june construction.—Tne Pole Gang nave completed tne extension ot; Te noro loop and low tension poles across Patchets to liautere road, ihey luave erected the poies at Waikanae township as well as a short stretch ol tne Waikanae Beach high tension lines. .The. low. tension extension from the Paraparaumu tq Arawiiiata road has been completed. This gang also pulled out the high wire between the main south line and Paraparaumu 1 , Beach township. Wire, uang no. i have run IQI7 chains ol wire in Tokomairu township and feeding south over the Tokjamaru stream. 'They ihave run 1Q service lines to farms. Wire Gang No. 2 have completed toe 11,000 volt line to Barber's Mill with low tension and service lines therefrom. The gang (have 'been shifted to Koputaroa area in order to push on with the work in that district. 1313 chains of wire have been run and 13 service lines erected. Wire Gang No. 3 have run 1052 chains of wire, completing the Paraparaumu township, j also strained and tied in the 11,000 volt line to Paraparaumu. Beach and have also, run the low tension wiring in the Bea<ch township. The Gang have erected 12 street lamps and 22 services in the township. Wire Gang No. 4 have run 1232 chains of. wiring on the Te Horo loop 11,000 volt line and low tension lines therefrom, completing the isolating switch connection and extra (high tension railway crossing; they have also run 18 service lines. Wire Gang No. 5 have been employed mainly on service lines and low tension extensions in Levin and Foxton boroughs, also in Manakau township, besides cutting back trees on the main lines in Tiro Tiro road and Fairfield. During the period they have run 831 chains of low tension wire and 35 service lines. Sub-station fitters: Outdoor transformers nave been erected at the foibeach 1, Te Horo Loop 2, Paraparaumu Beaph road 1. Maximum demand indicators have been installed at the Main substation, Levin and Otaki. Street lighting time switches have keen erected at Paekakariki, Paraparaumu, Paraparaumu Beach and Foxton Heads sub-stations. >

Transport.—The pole carting lorry called out 180 poles in various parts of the district, also worked for the Telegraph Department four days— Kills time is being charged against them; otherwise all of the lorries have been kept fully employed, also one Ford on hire from Milnes' Garage.

Workshops.—Garage work consisted of grinding in valves No. 3 truck, renewing front and support of crankcase No. 2 truck, repairs to gear-box No. 1 truck, also overhaul ol spring gear on pole lorry trailer. Three 11,000 volt panels were made up and two 11,000 volt isolating switches. Waterheaters continue to be in large demand—to date 85 have 'been made up and so far no breakages have occurred to any one in service. Routine work has been turned out as follows;—Cross arms. 473, 11,000 volt ■eartjh-guards 42 sets, top and spacing blocks 146, pipe stays 13 . pairs, low tension shackle straps ,1020, eye bolts 14 low tension fuses 19, suspension street light fittings 7, cross arm braces 611, transformer hand-rail sets 12, earth pipes 62, triangle straps 570, large U shackles 36, water hearters 20, 11,000 volt switches 2, IT.OOO volt switch panels 3.

Group contracts and canvassing.— Messrs. Manson and Barr, Ltd. Have completed Group 14 (Gladstone and Kimberley roads) with, the exception of two shed motors, all ol the installations have been livened up. C. B. Gilmour lhas made a. start on Group 23 Tokomaru township. Messrs Lunn and Henley are making a start on their group; ibetween Shannon and Tokomaru at the beginning of next week. They, are making good progress with the Waikanae Group. Messrs C. F. Eeles and Go. have completed the Paraparauinu group m rrood time, all installations hav.e been lusted and the greater portion of them connected up. J. B. Wilson has almost completed the two PaekakarUu "•roups and a large number of instalfations have been added to same. During the month lome group north of Shannon was let to C. B. Gilmour, also one to Messrs Uupn and Henley, and the area along Bruce road was let to Messrs Manson and Barr, Ltd. 'Schedules of tendering are submitted herewith. Ganvassing has commenced from Otakl River south including Swamp and Beach Roads, Te Iloro. This group should be complete within four days. 1 have had the probable load ascertained on Valley road, Paraparaumu and now recommend that a group 'be formed thereat. Canvassing will commence in the Ohau area early next week, also the soldiers' settlement on Levin-Foxton hue. Herewith is an analysis of load connected to the lath inst. Since last report 136 new consumers have been added—the largest installation being Harper's Mill—6s h.p.

Contracts.—ln regard to supply and delivery of poles, the advice received prior to. last meeting that Richardson McCabe expected to complete delivery at the end of February has not been accomplished/ and we now require the woles. I have written again enquiring where they are. Messrs Samuel Brown, Ltd., have mow delivered all of the bare copper w.ire 'under their contract. Messrs A. >D. HUey and Co., Ltd., notify {Hat a shipment uttw - formers are due in three .weeks' time. Messrs Carrick Wedderspoon, Ltd., state that'the triple braided wire is due about the 17th of next month. 1 would like authority to purchase father supplies at bare copper wire aim to invite tenders for supply of ranges—about half a dozen of the last forty have not been signed for and it will be necessary to draw requirements from Wellington stocks to carry on with. General; Paraparaumu township and street lighting was successfully livened up during the month. As instructed at last Board meeting, the chairman and myself, purchased a Ford runabout truck, and same has

been in service at Otaki during the past fortnight. With regard feci an attendant for Foxton sub-station, J, would like authority to try the Borough Council man (Mr Downes) for a period of three months, and remuneration to the Borough Council tq be arranged by the chairman and myself on an hourly basis of actual work done, and that Mr Downes' duties be confined to the sub-station and general trouble attendance in the district.

A very successful electric cooking demonstration was held in Otaki on March Jrd and 4th. Miss Thorpe, cooking instructress of schools, had charge of the cooking, tfie dishes, etc., being kindly lent by the Otaki Technical School .Committee. About 200 people attended and 7 ranges were booked up. I have no doubt that more sales will follow. Four ranges and one water heater were used and thoroughly demonstrated. The arrangements were ably organised by our inspector, Mr Slevin. It is intended to carry these demonstrations on in other centres, as opportunity offers. " The compensation claim at otaki Market Garden has been fixed up by Mr Kilsby and myself. With regard to Hema Te Ao—the chairman has the matter in hand. The question of the purchase of further ranges was referred to the Finance Committee for /consultation with, the Engineer. Regarding compensation claimed the. Board chairman stated that the Engineer had seen Mr Te Ao's solicitors who were not prepared to accept compensation unless'it were heavy. He felt that as practically no damage had been done, and as the amount payable for poles erected on arable and grazing land had already been fixed by a Court action in the South Island, that they should go ahead with their determination not to pay any compensation. He would recommend that the complainants be allowed to do what they could. This was agreed-to. The report was adopted.