POWER FOR OPOTIKI

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 304, 15 March 1928, Page 13

POWER FOR OPOTIKI

AVAILABLE ABOUT JUNE Electric power for the Bav of Plenty Power Board’s district will be available about June or July, according to information which Vickerman and Lancaster, engineers, supplied to the board at its meeting to-day. The engineers said to this effect had been received from Mr. F. T. M. Kissell, chief electrical engineer. Mr. Lancaster referred to the correspondence which had taken place with the Waitemata Power Board’s engineer in connection with the relative cost of concrete and hardwood poles, and said that apparently there had been a slight misunderstanding respecting the cost to Opotiki, the heavy transport charges on hardwood poles to Opotiki not being taken into consideration. The concrete poles manufactured by the Bay of Plenty Board cost only a little over £5, whereas the Waitemata engineer estimated the cost of concrete poles at £lO. The engineer’s report said that the steel towers across Waioeka River had been erected, and towers at the Ruatoki Saddle soon would be computed. The total guarantee to date was £15,541. Seventy-two applications have been received for the position of secretary to the board. Mr. G. A. Hathaway, Opotiki town clerk, was the successful applicant.