TARARUA POWER BOARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 January 1940, Page 9

TARARUA POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING OF MEMBERS. The monthly meeting of the Tararua Electric Power Board was held in Eketahuna yesterday, there being present Messrs J. D. Wilson (chairman), J. G. Brechin, W. Simpson, J. B. Carruthers, T Fouhy. A. W. Bisset. E. W. Cheetham, P. Davies, C. T. Richardson, L. Johnson, the secretary-manager (Mr W. F. Taylor) and the engineer (Mr D. Fraser).

Accounts passed for payment totalled £5674 14s 6d. The Public Works Department sanction was received to proceed with a certain portion of the Akitio extension scheme. After discussion it was agreed to seek permission to erect an extra three miles of line along Huia Road, then making the total distance eight miles. The Treasury intimated that the Board’s request to borrow £3650 of the Akitio County Reticultion Loan was receiving immediate attention. The Pahiatua Borough Council wrote advising that the council would consider the application for a permit to erect a garage building when plans and specifications were lodged—lt was decided to make application for a permit. and the engineer was asked to prepare the necessary plans. The secretary-manager (Mr W. F. Taylor) reported inter alia: —The total cash receipts from all sources in the power fund account amounted to £3665 7s Id. Credit trading amounted to £1349 2s 9d. Chief amongst the appliances sold were the following:— 21 electric ranges, 10 electric water heaters, 6 electric motors. While feeling the pressure of import restrictions on certain lines of electrical merchandise we have in most instances been able to substitute Dominion-made goods which are giving good service to buyers. Consequently our sales have not suffered. All the clerical staff in Eketahuna are now accommodated on the ground floor of the Exchange Buildings We find the new arrangement much more convenient for the staff and the general public. Our application for permission to resume reticulation work in the Akitio County has not been granted but we are advised to renew the application in three months time. Miss Jean Wilson, a junior on the Eketahuna clerical staff, has resigned. She has rendered quite satisfactory service during the twelve months she has been with us. We are hoping for three good months revenue before the year closes. It would appear that up to December 31 last gross electricity revenue is in advance of that for the same period last year by 7 per cent. The engineer’s (Mr D Fraser) report is as follows: —The connected load has been increased this month as set out below: —Eketahuna Borough. 60,400 k.w.; Eketahuna County, 57.053 k.w.; Pahiatua Borough, 44.372 kw.: Pahiatua County, 32.156 k.w.; Akitio County. 32.420 k.w.: total, 226.401 k.w. Inspections and tests: New installations: Eketahuna 7. Pahiatua 5; extensions, Eketahuna 16. Pahiatua 15; re-inspections, Eketahuna 23, Pahiatua 0. Eketahuna Area: The line extensions to supply the K*aori settlers at Hastwells has been completed Two of the houses have been wired but shortage of material has prevented the completion of this work. .New services were run to the County Engineer’s house. Town Clerk’s house. Capes. Eketahuna. and J. Mabey’s, Hamua. Alterations were carried out at R. MeAnulty’s, Rongokokako, and H. Rossiter’s, Nireaha. On December 13 one of the 3,300-volt wires on the Park-ville-Kaipaoro section came down, disconnecting the supply for a short period. An opossum was responsible for an outage on the Marima section on December 8, having climbed one of the main line poles ana maae con ' tact with the 11,000-volt wires. Two 11 k.v. transformers were erected and connected at Mr Udy’s, Hukanui, and the Maori settlement, Hastwells. Coloured lights were installed under the verandahs for local storekeepers and . also on the Power Board buildings. Steady progress is being made with the re-inspection and wiring work. The majority of the staff in both areas commenced their holidays on December 23.