HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

Shannon News, 23 December 1927, Page 4

HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.

ENGINEER'S REPORT TO HOROWHENUA BOARD.

The report of the Horowhenua Electric Power Board's engineer (Mr J. A. Smith) for the month ended December 14th, presented to the Board on Tuesday, was as under: —

No. 1 Gang have erected 54 poles and run 737 chains of wire, seven service lines and extra phases to two existing service lines; have fitted E.H.T. crossarms on- 24 E.11.T. poles on the Foxton-Himatangi line, which were erected previously; have extended the L.T. along water front Tasmau Beach; re-strained some L.T. and service lines Waikanae district and reconditioned street lamps; have built one outdoor sub-station, altered lines in Poxton to give clearance to P. and T. lines; unloaded two trucks of poles at Levin; changed one E.H.T. pole Potts Hill on account of a slip; run extra phases Foxton Beach L.T. and completed Himatangi Road . line, cut trees, and 'attended ,to breakdowns during the storm on November 28th. No. 2 Gang have erected 35 poles, and run 652 chains of wire and 15. service lines, have built one outdoor substation Otaki, and the L!T. circuits to suit; have run' extra wire to cope with increasing load Pataparaumu Valley Road, Tillcy, Ocean and Main Roads, Paekakariki; have changed and raised wires over P. and T. lines, -Waikanae Beach road; have moved one pole at Otaki Sanatorium; have extended E.H.T. 18 chains Tasmau Beaeh "lipad in connection with new sub; have patrolled southern circuit, and strengthened earths LevinOtaki circuits; have attended to breaks caused by storm on November 28th" and 29th.

No. 3 Gang have erected six poles, run 48 chains of wire, and have as-, sisted electrical fitters on line erection, McDonald Road, and attended to general maintenance northern area and main v substation, Shannon. Electrical Fitters have erected 2G poles, run 292 .chains of wire', built one outdoor sub-station, McDonald Road; extended the E.H.T. and ,made the necessary alterations to the L.T., and have run lo service lines; have changed Te Horo dairy and Waikanae township, transformers; have re-condi-tioned three transformers, made up earth plates, assisted in earth and voltage testing, renewed street lamps, attended to complaints and maintenance and "-damage from storm. Installations.—During the period 40 applications from new customers and 54, extensions to existing installations have been received, comprising 12 ranges, 22 waterheaters, 12 milking and separator motors, and three industrial motors. Thirty-seven new and 47 extensions have been connected, including 12 ranges, 16 waterheaters .and 9 milking and separating mo-; tors and '9 industrial motors. h ' Test Room. —113 single-phase and 24 polyphase meters have been tested and

33 single-phase meters repaired and re-tested.

Workshop.—Two 11,000-volt switch panels and two line switches have been completed, four water-heaters and a quantity of line material made up. ' General.—Chief among construction work completed during the period was the Himatangi Road Line, which was 1 put into service on December 6th; and the extension of E.H.T! and L.T. on McDonald Road, which was livened up on November 26th. L.T. was extended on Tasman Beach Road front to supply several n|cw consumers, and a new sub-station built on Tasman Beach. Road to improve the voltage on the western end of the town.'A severe gale on November 28th and 29th caused a considerable amount of damage to lines and ■ services. A • big tree just north of Ohau was uprooted and fell across the main south line and brought down the three 11,000 volt wires at '0.50 p.m. on the 28th. Fortunately the break occurred at a point that allowed us to bring a loop feeder into operation, and so supply the southern "area till the line was repaired and put into service at 2.50 a.mi on the 29th. During the. night a pine tree on Mr Moore's property, Lady's Mile, Foxton, was blown down and fell across the Beach line, bringing down E.H.T., L.T. and street lighting. The E.H.T. was cut off at the time on account of trouble with brandies. All tlie damage that was done by the gale. was caused, 'through either trees coming. down, or branches coming in contact with the lines. A number of service lines were broken and a great number of fuses blown over a large ar£a.. I would ask authority to purchase against quotations being obtained; about five ions bare copper cable and about 60/33ft and 100*/28ft poles. The report was adopted.