ANOTHER DIESEL GENERATOR TO BE HIRED BY COUNCIL

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 283, 12 July 1957, Page 7

ANOTHER DIESEL GENERATOR

TO BE HIRED BY COUNCIL

The power-supply position at Taupo is such that the borough eouncil has decided to hira another diesel generator from the Ministry of Works. Last Friday morning there was insufficient power available to drive the Creed teleprinter at the Taupo post office or the electric ringing system at the telephone exehange. The postmaster Mr L. F. W. Hoidsworth, toi d a Times representative that at 9.50 a.m. the Creed teleprinter motoiy failed to function, the lighting system failed, and the electric ringing system at the telephone exehange would not work. "We had to switch to onr emergency power supply, which gives snfficient power to ruh the Creed, the ringing system and two lights at the exehange.

Trouble In Holidays "We had trouble during the May school holidays through the infiux of visitors. Since the diesel was installed, we've had very little trouble." Friday was a very cold day, and the presumption was that a good many people were using the available pwer to keep themselves warm. If that limited emergency system breaks down, there is a battery bank that will last five hours to cover the services mentioned previously ; but will not provide illumination, which means that mail-sorting cannot be done if the natural lighting is poor. In a report dated June 24 the eleetrical inspector, Mr J. M. Sherwood, told the borough eouncil : "Installation of the 200kw diesel generation ^~0.^*0 0 m m ~ ^ ^ . K . __

pia n t has been completed, and the unit is run during peak-load periods as required. "Several mechanical defects which became apparent soon after the 1 diesel was first started, have been Teetified." Very Sad State At the last eouncil meeting, wheu the report was being eonsidered, Ci K. E. (Sefton said that without the diesel generator, Taupo would be ii a very sad state. A second diese might be prudent. Cr F. ,T. Mclsaac (to the Mayor) Are there n.o pfospects of getting on

to the national grid before November? The Mayor : I have been told we could be on in about six weeks or two months, but I don't know that we could rely upon that. Cr J. L. Burge: What are we paying for the diesel w.e have? The Mayor : We pay £35 a week hire, plus running costs. ■ Cr Sefton : The whole economy of the town is bound up with this. The Mayor : With two die-sels, it would simplify the line change between our own generator and the town. Cr G. Marlow : If the present diesel packed in, it would be a sticky business. I move we procure the second diesel and install it. The eouncil agreed.