HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD
SEPTEMBER MEETING.
Thte..monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Electrics Power Board was held < in-the Municipal Chambers, Levin, on i Tuesday, there being present: Messrs G. A. Monk (chairman), A. Seifert, A. ; J. Petherick, C. Bienkhorn, A. E. Hyde, E. S. Morse, R. Bryant, T. G. Vincent and W. E. Barber, Mr. P. W. Goldsmith (secretary and treasurer), and Mr. J. A. Smith (engineer). 2 The,. chairman ; welcomed Mr. Seifert back from *iiis holiday in Australia and said he was very pleased indeed to see
him .looking so fit. ;Mr. Seifert was the one member of the Board who had . travelled pretty extensively, and the knowledge that he had been able to .bring to the; Board had been very valuable. (Applause). Mr. Seifert returned thanks for the chairman's remarks. His only regret, ,he -said, was that other members- of the Board had not be.en with him on his journey. He was satisfied that New Zealand had gone very far in
> • electrical - - development as compared with Australia. This country had natural advantages, such as a more concentrated population. /Victoria had advanced in regard ‘to electricity, though not to the extent that the Dominion had done. In the former
State low-grade lignite was being used for the production of power, which was being sent pretty well over the State. . He had had a very nice trip, and only regretted that it had not, been longer. Mr. Blenhorn said he .would like to hear, at some time, further particulars of the power system referred to by Mr. Seifert, and as to the by-products that
were obtained. He had always had an idea that something of the sort could be done in New Zealand, at Mokau and other places where there was lowgrade coal; and it had appealed to him that the by-products and current could have ; been advantageously used before this country went to the trouble and , expense f harnessing its water-power. ,Mr. Seifert stated that he had asked
for full reports on the Victorian scheme. They had not yet come to hand, but the N.Z. Trade Commissioner had promised to send them. He would let the Board know about them later. Slot Meters Suggested,
A letter was received from Mr. J. Johansen, Palmerston North, asking if the Board would be prepared to instal electric slot meters in seaside' cottages, nwag to the difficulty of 'collecting from tenants money for the use of
lights. The secretary reported that he had replied stating that the, Board had not so far -installed any slot meters; that they'were fairly expensive, and the demand for them was small. He had also stated that, while it was difficult to collect always the exact amount from tenants, an owner could fix the rent to provide for such contingencies as forgotten or unpaid lighting accounts. |Sp6aking on the matter, the secretary said he did not think tMat slot -meters would be very advisable for beach cottages, which might be broken
into when unoccupied. It was decided to inform Mr. Johan- \ - -sen that, owing to their cost, the Board could not undertake the installation of slot meters. Services to Waimeha. Mr. E. S. Lancaster, waited upon the Board and stated that he had applications from six residents of Waimeha Road, Waikanae, for electricity. They wished the line to be extended from Mr. V. Weggery’s as far as his own section —a distance of about twenty chains. The chairman said he understood that the cost, would be about £9O. In most cases of extensions the Board obtained a revenue equivalent to 18 per cent on the outlay in capital expenditure. Actually the applications based on the seaside rate would fall a little short of the charges at present. Probably the Boawrd wanted a revenue of £l6 or £l7, and the revenue would be £l2, but he noticed that a hot-point was wanted, and that would - increase the amount. He suggested that authority be given the engineer to go on with the scheme, provided that he could secure the necessary revenue based on the 18 per cent. Mr. Vincent: Are any of the cottages likely to be occupied more or less permanently? Mr. Lancaster; Yes. The chairman: There are only three and four lights in them, so they must come under the seaside rate. Mr. Lancaster said he was sure there would be more applicants. The chairman: Yes. We have to see that the capital earns interest and sinking fund and that there is a return from the current. We will give the authority if that guarantee is forthcoming. Mr. Lancaster thanked the Board and withdrew. A resolution was passed authorising the extension provided that the return is guaranteed at 18 per cent. , Treasurer’s Report.
The following report was presented by the treasurer: — Accounts.
Although no interest or electricity payments appear on the list for the monts yet the total amount is over £27,00. In the accounts presented for confirmation the principal items are: Motor vehicles (4) purchased, £750; salaries £292, wages £332; railway freight (chiefly poles) £94; superannuation. £4B; installations £3O. The balance is made up of payments for 100 railway sleepers, registration fees for new' vehicles, and a few sundries. Owing to the demand for electricity, more men are engaged in construction work, hence wages amount to a larger »«m than has been the case of late. In the accounts for the day, copper, wire is most prominent, as it accounts for payments of about £545. There are two condensers costing £120; ranges, .waterheaters, fuses, elements and miscellaneous line, material appearing on. .the list, as also accounts for benzine, motor
requisites, insurance premiums, typewriter, stationery, and many sundries. Cash Receipts.—The cash receipts for the month have been satisfactory for the time of the year, and are considerably in advance of August, 1928. This, I presume, is as it should be, but naturally the Board must expect a larger bill from Mangahao at the end of the quarter. The following, table shows the cash takings for the month and for the pre-
shillings and pence omitted). It will be seen that the receipts from sundry debtors (mainly payments for installations) amount . to over £2OOO for the five months under review. It will also be noticed that a number of our consumers continue to pay the higher rate (on those accounts not paid at due date), to the extent of an average of £2B per month for the five months of the current year. ». Loan Matters. Members will have gathered from the engineer’s report, and will also from thei.f own observations, that from the calls for extensions in various parts of the Board’s district, the necessary construction that must be carried out is considerably more than was anticipated some twelve months ago. The last loan of £SOOO is disappearing fast, and it will be necessary to make further arrangements in the near future if the Board’s progressive work is not to be impeded. The cost of copper wire has increased some £ls per ton. This means, of course, that loan moneys do not go quite so far as hitherto.. To date the Board has raised in all £195,000. Another £SOOO will probably be required to complete extensions contemplated and to meet new calls. The report was adopted.
sent financial year: — Aug. Total for 5 mos. Electricity .. 3296 18550 Penalties 28 140 Sundry debtors Interest on 596 2092 installations 22 72 Miscellaneous 69 334 ■ Totals .. £4013 £21188
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Shannon News, 27 September 1929, Page 4
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1,234HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD Shannon News, 27 September 1929, Page 4
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