THIRD ARAPUNI UNIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 876, 21 January 1930, Page 8

THIRD ARAPUNI UNIT

NOW TO BE READY ft FEBRUARY m POWER BOARD’S EVENTS Reporting to the Auckland Electric. Power Board yesterday afternoon, jjr R. H. Bartley, Ihe general manager informed the board that the third unit of the Arapuni power supply no* was not expected to be available until about the middle of February. Mr. Bartley remarked that the board had expected to be served with the third unit immediately afteChristmas. Later, the cliairniau. Mr. W. } Holdsworth, commenting on a discussion with the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, said he had told the Minister of the Publie Works Department's efforts to have the board take the maximum demand. The Minister was sympathetic with the board's views on the delay and said he would notify the board when the third unit was in commission. When the third Arapuni set operated, the board could close down its own station. Mr. Holdsworth also discussed with Mr. Ransom the approaching jubilee events in the history of the board Toward the end of February or earlr in March, the board would celebrate three events—its 21st birthday, the official opening of Arapuni power, and the opening of the new Power Board building in Queen Street, where the board was that afternoon holding its first meeting since the Quay Street premises were vacated. Mr. Holdsworth. suggested to the Minister that the Government might eo- operate at the celebration, but Mr, Ransom had apparently considered that the ceremonies should be separate. NEW SUB-STATIONS Mr. Bartley’s report added that the principal works in hand were the lay. ing of the Penrose-Kingsland and Kingsland-Point Chevalier 22,000volt cables, and the erection and th« equipment of new sub-stations at Remuera and Point Chevalier. The board had 100 men employed on the laying and the jointing of the 22,000-volt cables, and the work was progressing satisfactorily. The outside staff was being kept fully occupied on the Alfriston, Brookby and Whitford extensions and to high-tension lines at Panmure and Point Chevalier. The board approved of the letting tit a tender of £4,082 to Mr. Charlei Ravenhall, for the Point Chevalier sub-station.