POWER BOARD PROGRESS.

Shannon News, 26 May 1925, Page 3

POWER BOARD PROGRESS.

WORK OF RETICULATION. COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS. ENGINEER’S REPORT. At last meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board, the Engineer (Mr T. Overton) reported as foilows: —

Line Construction.T-The pole gang have completed low tension extensions at Union Street (Foxton), Heatherlea corner towards main North road, Kimberley road and Boys’ Training Farm to McLeavey road; also high tension at Tokomaru. A few days’ broken time due to weather conditions has retarded progress somewhat in pole erection work. No. 1 Wire Gang, working from Shannon, have run 588 chains of low tension line on Shannon-Foxton road and Shannon-Tokomaru road. They also ran 21 service lines in the same localities. The principal service lines; being Whenanui Mill, Moutoa, and j the scutching shed for the same com- 1 pany near Foxton. This gang also built the transformer substation at ilio latter point. No. 2 Wire Gang ran out 736 chains of line wire, completing the 11,000 volt line to Koputaroa, and the low tension along Kilsby’s road, and low tension from Heatherlea corner. Thirteen service lines have also 'been erected from the above ! lines. This gang erected earth guards at telephone crossing on Gladstone' and Beach road 11,000 volt circuits. No. 3 Wire Gang have run out 1206 chains of wire at Waikanae. They, have also connected *up 24 service lines and erected six sheet lights in the township. The service line toj Lynch’s Farm has been completed in-j eluding a number of service lines at j Paekakariki. The current has been* switched on a,t Waikanae. No. 4 Wire Gang working from Otaki have | run 1112 chains of low tension wire! and 19 service lines in the Te Horo district and in the vicinity ol Otaki, | including the lengthy service line to. the Otaki Racing Dub’s premises. | They have also completed extensions to the Otaki Street lighting circuits.! No. 5 Wire Gang: Have run out 573, chains of low tension wire and erected 34 service lines, these being at various places between Ohau and Foxton Beach. Sub-station Fitters: Transformer platforms have been erected at the following centres: Simcocks, Wheta j nui scutcher shed, Buckley road, and) Waikanae, whilst transformers have| been installed and livened up at Sim-, cox’s, Te Horo loop (two), Whetanui ( Mill, Ross Rough and Co., Buckley road, and Waikanae. Transport.—The pole lorry has car-

ted 126 poles to different points in the district besides delivering the large transformers for fiaxinills. Otherwise the lorry has been engaged carting timber and material ex rail to stores. The light lorries have been fully engaged carting men and material to various jobs, also delivering waterheaters, ranges and motors to purchasers throughout the district. The new light truck is expected any day: same will be stationed at Otaki. Workshops.—' Throe 11,000 volt substation panels have been made up during the month, besides one main line isolating switch. The usulal inspections and light, repairs to lorries and cars have been undertaken. De-i tails were givpn of the garage and routine, work done. Installations.— Although canvassimr • has not been actively pushed drrring the month, about 50 consumers have, signed up. Fairly good progress has been made with respect to contracts let at last meeting with the exception of the Ohau Group. Messrs Eeles and r. 0.. have commenced work on thej Te Horn Beach road Group. Messrs, r npn and Henley expect to be finish-) m vHfb Tokomaru Group in two. Messrs Manson and Barr have, not vpf completed the Te Horo-Han-, f-.ro unad Grouo. Several minor alterations have fbeen ventured. The , Koputaroa Grouo under' the same firm ip complete except two combined

milking machine sets which are due to arrive from Christchurch. Gilmour and CQ-, are not making satisfactory progress with the Snaunon-Tokomaru Group and I have written tq tooth this firm and Manson and Barr asking them to push the work along laster. Testing and livening-up is now in progress at Waikanae and I expect that this township will 'toe complete, by meeting day. A. Allen has made good progress with the Kuku Group, several installations toeing now ready on the main road. A schedule of the total connected load up to the 12th instant is accompanied herewith, it will toe observed that during the month 120 new consumers have been connected to the system, making a total of 1583. The more important consumers connected during the month were Ross, Hough and Go., Foxton, 150 h.p., Levin Daily Company 28 h.p. General.—Application • has been made toy the Medical Superintendent, Otaki Hospital for a reduction in charges should the Hospital and Sanatorium change .over to the Board’s supply, i would like a direction as to whether the Board agrees to this toeing done. The matter ol an electrical display at the Manawatu Winter Show has again come forward. It will toe remembered that last .year the question of securing space was left too late, and in consequence {the matter had to toe dropped. I have received advice from the Borough Electrical Palmerston, that it is intended to ask all of the Boards in the vicinity .of Palmerston to co-operate this year, and 1 would therefore like to know whether the Board will make a grant in this direction. ,

In moving the adoption of the Engineer’s report, the chairman said that he was of opinion that local cooking demons tar tions would toe of more use than ope in Palmerston N. at the winter show, as was suggested. At the same time if suitable arrangements could be made with the neighbouring Boards, something might be done. Mr Gunning said that he was of opinion that a local x demonstration was' infinitely better. Mr* Barber said that the installations of ranges throughout the district was the best demonstration. A number of ranges had been put in and his experience was that every user.became a demonstrator. Ranges were being put in everywhere—in fact ils fast as the Board could deal with them. Mr Seifert said that ‘if other appliances such as washing-machines, etc., could be demonstrated, it might be worth while. , The matter was left with the Engineer •to consult with the Either Boards interested, the Horowhenua Board’s contribution to te limited to £lO. • In reference to the Otaki Hospital, the chairman suggested that the best thing the Board could do was to reply that they could not see their way clear to make any reduction at the present time, but were prepared to review the matter in twelve months time. .