ELECTRIC POWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1940, Page 7

ELECTRIC POWER

TARARUA BOARD MONTHLY MEETING. INCREASE IN CONNECTED LOAD. (“Times-Age" Special.) The monthly meeting of the Tararua Electric Power Board was held yesterday, there being present Messrs J. D. Wilson (chair), W. Simpson. L. Johnson. C. T. Richardson, E. W. Cheetham, W. A. Bissett, T. Fouhy, W. Britland and J. G. Brechin. Leave of absence was granted Mr J. B. Carruthers. Members thought that the question of tree cutting should be referred tc the Minister of Public Works as overhanging limbs were a menace to the continuity of the power supply throughout the district. It was decided to employ a tree-cutting gang to deal immediately with the matter. Mr L. Johnson was accorded a vote of thanks for his assistance during ;. trying spell at Pongaroa recently. Accounts amounting to £3,144 12s 1c were passed for payment. Manager’s Report. The Secretary-Manager (Mr W. F. Taylor) in his monthly report stated: There is still considerable interest in the use of electrical appliances all ovei the district. Some inquiries may not mature for several weeks, but the business will arrive sooner or later. The attention of consumers is being directed to. the use of refrigerators. Nine of these machines were installed during the month although three only were sold by the Board. Chief amongst other sales were the following: 5 elec-* trie ranges, 2 water heaters, 9 motors. Banking from all sources amounted tc £3,590 Ils 7d of which £2,599 14s Ic. was on electricity account and £B7O 2s lid on trading account. There was a falling off in cash and credit sales—--72 per cent in the former and 62 pel cent in the latter. The electricity sales for the month exceed the sales for the same period of last year by 4 per cent. Two debentures were redeemed during the month, £6OO off the £12,00( loan, and £5OO off the £lO.OOO loan. Three vacancies on the clerical stall have been filled. Report of Engineer. The Engineer (Mr D. Fraser) reported as follows: The connected load has been increased this month as set out below; Eketahuna Borough, 9,600 k.w.. Eketahuna County, 21,500 k.w., Pahiatua Borough, 11,020 k.w., Pahiatua County, 30,833 k.w., totals, 72,953 k.w. New installation: Eketahuna 2, Pahiatua 1, total 3; extension, 7, 20, 27. Re-inspections 21, 37. 58. Service lines. Eketahuna, new 3. alterations 2; Pahiatua, new 1, alterations 3. Eketahuna area: The line staff in both areas completed their annual leave on February 11. This had its effect on the amount ol work completed. New services were run at Mr J. Sigvertsen's (Newman) and the nurse's new home in Eketahuna. Alterations were carried out a. Mr Renment’s and the Catholic Church. Eketahuna, and also at Mr Whetton’s. Parkville. The low tension lines were extended along Jones and Anderson Streets and connected in to the main feeder on the Alfredton Road. From the 28th to 30th a very high north-west wind was experienced causing unavoidable interruptions. The main south feeder had to be shut down from 2.1 f to 2.50 p.m. to clear a burning 11,001. volt crossarm. A short circuit in the Mangamaire 11 to 3.3 k.v. sub-station was responsible for 'an outage on tht Hamua section. Temporary repairs were effected as promptly as circumstances would permit. A faulty constructed line at Kakariki was the cause of inconvenience to settlers. JCwing tc the high wind twisting the wires and thus blowing the transformer fuses, the supply was off for some time, there being no telephone communication. Or the 30th a 3.3 k.v. transformer at Mauriceville burned out, the damage beinj due to overhanging branches shortcircuiting the wires. Overhanging trees have been responsible for 75 per cen of the trouble experienced during the three days storm. The tree menace i.< becoming very serious and is a heavy drain on the Board's finances. The time has now arrived when some definite arrangements will have to be made, a: the staff are unable to cope with this work and keep the maintenance anc new work up to date. A number of consumers have been notified of overhanging trees but so far very few have responded. Pahiatua: Poles have beer renewed in Cambridge Street and the conductors restrained and erected on the new poles. A 35ft pole was erected at the Theatre corner, new crossarms were fitted and the conductors re-regulated. The half-yearly inspection and test of the sub-stations has been completed. One new pump service was erected and three of the existing services overhauled. A considerable amount of trouble was experienced due to the exceptional weather conditions Several outages occurred on the Makuri-Pongaroa main feeder. The trouble was located where the wires crossed a gully on the Rakaunui sec tion. A broken binder was responsibh for an outage in the Marima .district This was replaced and the power restored at 8.15 a.m. Several transforms fuses were blown during a lightning storm but no structural damage occurred. The thanks of the board are due tc Mr Johnston for the assistance rendered in the Pongaroa area during the storm. Mr Johnston operated the 1) k.v. switches while the different sec tions ‘were being tested, thus saving r lot of delay. He also patrolled severa’ miles of line trying to locate the fault