POWER BOARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1943, Page 4

POWER BOARD

MEETING AT CARTERTON COST OF EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE. ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT IN WAIRARAPA. (“Times-Age" Special.) The monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board was held in Carterton today and was presided over by Mr A. Campbell Pearce. Others present were: Messrs G. Hart, W. A. Tate, N. C. C. Shepherd, C. N. Holmes, F. C. Daniell and J. W. Colquhoun. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs H. P. Hugo and W. H. Booth. The monthly report of the SecretaryManager indicated that the restrictions or. power were being observed, though care would be required as next winter approached. The cost of earthquake repair work at Kourarau and Martinborough was reported to be £B2O. The engineer reported that maintenance work had been overtaken and the unusual demands arising from the earthquake had been largely met so that conditions were returning to normal. A report had been prepared and forwarded to the Public Works Department on prospective hydro-electrical development in the Wairarapa with particular reference to the Waiohine scheme.

It was recommended that No. 4 additional north feeder should be proceeded with as soon as permission was obtained from the controller and the remaining material had been secured, the estimated cost being £l5OO. The engineer reported that the two groups of automatic water-heating services’ installed in Masterton borough had given very satisfactory service and seemed to offer a very satisfactory substitute for the time switches. He recommended the gradual change over to the relay system, releasing time switches for use in outlying districts. The board decided to apply for an import licence and to place an order’ in England with the company which supplied the present plant. Correspondence with the Rehabilitation Department suggesting a “wage and subsidy scale” for the training of ex-service men was considered and the principle approved.