HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Shannon News, 24 July 1925, Page 3

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Horowhenua Power Board met on Tuesday, those present -being: Messrs G. A. Monk (chairman), C. Kilsby, A. I. Mackay, A. Ross, D. VV. Matheson, A. A. Brown, \V. h. Gunning, W. E. Burner, and tiie secrctary (Mr P. W. Goldsmith). 'lhe correspondence, as under, was dealt with: —

From Mr A. Seifert asking four months' leave of absence, as he is leaving for Australia and the East.--Granted.

From the Manawatu-Oroua Power Boai'd, requesting they he permitted to connect up a resident in the Ho.rowhenua Power Board's area, near the Bangitane Bridge, just over the boundary, dividing the two Power Boards' • districts.—Referred to theEngineer to be dealt with, and suggested that an arrangement be entered into whereby the Power Board assume control over any installations made by the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board.

From the Otaki Borough Council,

authorising the erection of three ' lamps on the grand stand in the Otaki. Domain for football practice, the cost of installation to be debited to the Council, the club having undertaken to pay for the current. The secretary wrote suggesting the Council obtain' tenders from local contractors.—The chairman pointed out thai if the installation were made it should be the responsibility of the Council and not the Football Club.—Cr. Kilsby agreed with that course, which was agreed to by the Board. Otaki Theatre, "Ltd., wrote drawing attention to what was regarded as an unfair charge of 8d per unit for current, and asking the Board to consider a reduction to the power rate. —The chairman said the question was one of whether the current passing through the rectifier at the theatre should be charged at power or lighting rate. In his (, the chairman's) opinion the picture theatres were running at much reduced cost since the advent of the Power Board, in comparison with cost of running their own generating plant—Mr Kilsby said the theatre used a great deal of current and if the reduction could be made it should be done.—The secretary stated that during the 2J months 174 units at 8d per unit had been consumed which represented something like 10s per week.—Members agreed that the charge was a reasonable one and it was finally resolved that no action could be taken in the matter as this would -probably create a precedent. From the Otaki Plunket Society, asking that the Society be placed on a similar basis as week-end cottages and churches—Granted, with suggestion that all similar societies should have the same opportunity. The Ratepayers Association, Paekakariki, wrote re lighting up time. which was at present from 4 to 10.150 p.m., which thev suggested should be from 5 to 12 p.m.; pointing out that often the.lights in the township were going an.hour before they were required. Also requesting t»he light at the corner of Cecil and Welling- ( ton roads be placed on the other side of the road, as the light in its present position did not illumine the road at all—After some discussion the .matter was referred to Messrs Mackay and Overton (the Board's Engineer) for attention. \ Richardson McCabe. Ltd., wrote j stating that, subject to strikes, etc., , in Australia, an order for ironbark poles would be fulfilled within three \ weeks, at 34s 2d c.i.f.e., ex ship ! slings, Wellington—Received. A conference of delegates from , Power Boards is to be held in the Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington, on Wednesday, sth August, each affiliated Board to appoint its delegates. On the motion of Mr Matheson it was resolved that Messrs Monk (chairman), Overton (engineer), and Goldsmith (secretary), shall represent, the board at the conference. ENGINEER'S REPORT. - The Engineer reported:— Line Construction.—The pole gang have been working on the 11,000-volt line iu Muhunoa West, Tokomaru District and the lines on the Central Development Farm have been erected, in all 173 poles. No. 1 Wire Gang have run ofo chains of wire in Shannon and Tokomaru districts, also erected 7 poles and run 19 service lines. Owing to floods the men from this gang were engaged in an extra amount of line patrolling. Extensions to lines at Seiiert's Mill have been completed. No. 2 Wire Gang, working on Btiller road, McLeavey road, Muhunoa road and the Central Development Farm have run 1413 chains of wire, erected 38 poles and run 20 service lines.

NO. 3 Wire Gang, working ut Paraparaumu, Paekakariki and Waikanae ami subsequently shifted to Porouta whao on the Levin-Fox ton line, have run 2566 chains of wire, erected IT) poles and rum L 9 services. No. 4 Wire Gang, working on the Te Horo loop line, also Te Horn Township and Beach Line and in Otaki Borough, have run VM chains of wire, erected 17 poles and run 25 services.

'No. 5 Wire Gang, working at Foxton, Levin, Ohau, and Manakuu, huv.. run 902 chains of wire, erected C poles and run 23 services. They have also made extra earths at all substations and guarded crossing on Levin Shannon "line. This work was found necessary owing to the earths at these points not being down to the regulation tests. Details were also given of the lilting work done, transport (242 polos carted out dining month), and workshop, repairs and routine work. Installations: Group progress is as follows;, Messrs Limn and Henley have completed Group 22, Tokomaru. C. B. Gilmour has completed Group 23, Tokomaru, and is making good

progress with the Ohau group, having now livened up 12 installations. A. Allen has completed the Kuku Group consisting of 30 consumers. Manson' and Barr have completed all of their work in the Board's district and have closed down their branch at Levin, but intend doing any work

in the Board's District from Palmerston North. Owing to'the amount oj work Lunn and Henley have had on hand, arrangements have been made to divide the Heatherlea Group into two sections. The Foxton Road and Soldiers' Settlement portion being taken over by A. Allen, who has already made a start on the milking machine motors, whilst ,Lunn and Henley have made a start on the Heatherlea end. Eeles and Go expect to have the Central Development Farm completed, this week. They have also completed the Te Horo-

Beach Road Group. The Otaki Electrical Works were the successful tenderers for the Valley Road Group at Paraparaumu, but the work has not yet started owing to the firm being occupied on milking machine work. The Raumati Group has been formed as far as possible, and being a scattered area, every effort is being made to secure the seaside cottages, .as consumers. Replies from each owner is now being awaited. The reticulation of the Rikiorangi area is now under consideration, and a canvass of the District is being made. Amongst tiie more important consumers who have applied for motors during the month is Mr Speirs, Shannon, for his flaxmill who requires, one 50 and one 15 h.p. motor. General.—With regard to further supplies of bare copper wire and triple braided wire I would advise that authority be given to purchase same against quotations which are now Deing called.

No interruptions of Supply have been experienced during the month except those arranged for. The maximum demand at the Power House is now over 620 K.V.A.

Settlers on (Hume's Road, Tokomaru.—At last meeting I was directed to communicate with above. The Installation Inspector therefore interviewed Mr Bayliss, Mr Carr, Mr Alexander, Mr Ea'ston, Mr Lovelock, and Mr Hume. Mr Jack was instructed to arrange for engines temporarily until supply could be given hut the offer has been declined owing to delays in securing bare copper wire, and poles from Australia added to the v breaks in weather. It will be difficult to- connect up the number of fanners already promised lor the coming season. I cannot see a suitable opportunity of meeting the request of the Hume Road Settlers for two months yet. Accounts passed for payment totalled £7074. PURCHASE OF CARS.

Considerable discussion took place on the Board's policy in regard to the purchase of cars, this arising out of the need to provide new cars for the Engineer and Chief Inspector. The Finance Committee had considered the matter and referred it to the Board. The chairman favoured the purchase of a certain make of American car for the present, but recommended the Board to consider the policy generally of using English cars as much as possible. He-stated a very large part of the Board's material had been of English make. Mr Ross urged that the whole oi the Board's motor requirements bo standardised, preferably on an English make. j The matter was eventually referred back to the Finance Committed to make further investigations on'*tbe lines suggested. It was resolved that Mr Brown be appointed to the finance committee during the absence of Mr Seifert.

TREASURER'S REPORT. The Treasurer reported that the Electricity Account from the Public Works Department for the quarter ended 30th June last, has come to hand, the amount being £1325. The peak load was reached between the hours of 11 and 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, the 13th May. "During the last month the statistical returns as required by law to he furnished to the Government Statistician through the Public Works Department have been prepared and sent ! away. These returns entail a considerable amount of work before they can be furnished with any degree of accuracy.

•■On Monday, the 13th inst., the move was made from the old quarters to the' new suite of offices at the Municipal Buildings, and although things are not quite straightened out as yet, still it is expected that very soon the various departments will be satisfactorily established.

The total' receipts since April 1 were: Loan Fund—lnstallations £3477, service lines £339. Power Fund: Electricity £3953, meter rents £172, motors and ranges £852, total £4977. Loan Monies.—Of the second loan of £40,000 from the Government Life Insurance .Department there are yet some three monthly instalments of £3OOO each and a final instalment of £2OOO less the interest accrued. It will be necessary to raise a further loan for the completion of the reticulation in the district. During the month one of the staff at the Depoi was put on to do the meter reading in Levin. The object was to get the meter reading a little more up-to-date, which is very desirable.

"What is the greatest modern musical development in England?" was the question put to Mr G. F. Vincent, an examiner for Trinity College, London, who is at present in Clirist- ( church. "Broadcasting," was Mr , Vincent's reply. Elaborating this < statement, reports the Lyttelton I Times, he said that it was now posI sible to sit in comfort, in an English . home and listen to the finest musical ' artists in the world. "Just before I J left," he said, "I listened-in to re- ; citals by Tettrazini and Paderewski, j and both oame through excellently. The piano-player music is transmif--1 ted well by wireless, and in New Zea- | land, where vou have so few artists, this would be convenient music to broadcast."