The Southland Electric Power Board

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 34, 5 November 1920, Page 14

The Southland Electric Power Board

FIRST REVIEW OF THE PROCEEDING5 OF

For the Period from JANUARY 15th to OCTOBER 31st, 1920.

The proclamation of the Governor-Gen-eral constituting "The Southland Electric Power District" was Gazetted on November 19, 1919, and by such proclamation the date of the election of twelve members to represent the different portions of the district was fixed for Saturday, 20th Deceinber, 1919, The result of such election was the return of the following gentlemen to sit as "The Southland Electric • Pow«r Board" : — Iion. A. F. Hawke, and Messrs R. A. Anderson, E. Bowmar, T, A. Buckingliam, L. Cody, H. Fowler, T, Fraser, W. Hinchey, W. Norman, R. A. Rcdger, A. W. Rodger, and F. Young, — First Meeting of Bcard. — The first meeting of the Board was held on the ltth of January, 1920, at which meeting Mr A. W. Rodger was appointed chairman ; Mr C. Campbril, being appointed clerk and treasurer (pro tem), and the Na'tional Bank N.Z., Ltd., the Board's bankers for the time being. The report of the Southland electrification'com. mittee, tofgether wlth a statement of the expenditure amounting to £3460 7s 4d, was laid before the Board, and it was ^ decided that the report be received and adopted and that the above-named sum be taken over by the Board as a liability. The sum mentioned inclucled the survey fees and all other preliminary expenses incidental to the investigation of thie hydro-, electric possibilities of Southland, the onactment • of the needful legislation and the formation of the district as weli as a general canvass for support to the ; scheme. — Adoption of Schemes. — - The Board decided to visit the site of the Lake Monowai scheme in company with Mr L. Birks, the chief electrical engineer of the N.Z. Government, and Mr | . F. C. Hay, who had acted as consulting | emgineer to the electrification committee, . and M)is visit was made on the 23rd and *' 24tv^ aifd 25th of January, 1920. The ! result of such visit was that the Board ; decided to adopt the No. 2 Monowai scheme as recommended by Mr F. G. Hay. This wUs done at a Board meeting on February 5th, 1920, and at the same meeting it was resolved that a, poll oi | the ratepavers be taken immediately for ! authority to borrow the sum of £1,500,000 for the following purposes £400,000 for j gsneration and transmission of electric f power at and from the Monowai river to three sub-stations ; £800,000 for the erection of say 2000 mile.s of dfstribution. lines ; £300,000 for future extensions, assistance to consumers and trading, etc. This poll was taken on the 27th of March, 1920, the result being that 6516 voe3 were cast in favour of the proposal and only 415 against. - — Transport. — The Board having in view the necessity for adoptXng the most efficient and ©conoinical means of transportation of the large quantities of materials and plant from the railway terminus at Tuatapere to the Monowai headworks, instructed Mr Hay to arrange for a representative of Messrs Hatrick and Co., expertg in navigating the Wanganui river, to accompany him with the object of investigating the possibilities of navigating the Waiau river for transport purposes. The report received from Mr Hay and Captain Allen, the navigation expert, while indicatirng that the navigation of the Waiau river is .quite a feasible proposition, also made it clear that the Board would not be justified in adopting this method of trans. portation in carrymg out the Monowai scheme. The further investigations of the engineers have proved conclusively that, for the stsady work required between Tuatapere land Monowai, traction engine3 present, from every point of view, the best means of haulage, while for the varying requirements in connection with the distribution of poles and other materials throughout the district to be served by the Board, motor lorries ara to be preferred. These xocommcndaiions have feeen approved aad adopted by the Board. — Acoess to Works. — ■ Direct access by road to the Monowai haad works from the railway terminus is of paramouni importance, and it le also essential that such road should ha kept in the best possible repair in order that there should be no delay or mconvenience in transporting the necessary jaaierials and plant, and the 'BoaTd there-

fore decided to make a propcsal to the Wallace County Council that it should for the period of construction of the works, control the Tuatapere- Sunnyside road, put it in thorough repair and keep it in such good repair, thereafter handing it back to the Council. The question as to the respective responsibilities of the Government, the Council and the Jooard to be determined later. This the County Council agreed co and the road from Tua. tapere to the Waiau river at Sunnyside is novv completely gravelled and in thorough order. The access across the Waiau river ancl beyond to the head headworks i — a distance of over four miles — will be [ met by means of suspension bridge and a r new road, and both works are now well in hand. — Method and Time of Contstruction, Load Estimates, etc. — On February 11th, 1920, Messrs Hay and Vickerman, at the request of the Board, submitted a full report on the method to be adopted in carrying out the work of construction and the approximate time that would be required for completion of the whole scheme. The time was set down by Messrs Hay and Vickerman at three years. This estimate was corrobated by Mr L. Birks, the chief electrical engineer of the Dominion. On the 24th of February, 1920, and F. C. Hay was appointed consulting engineer pending the taking the loan poll and permanent engineering appointments being made j and in order to ascertain, as accurately as possible, the actual mileage of distribution lines required to cover the whole of the area proposed to be reticulated and the approximate load or demand for power existing within such area, it was decided to have a rapid survey made by six engineers, in motor cars, assisted by men thoroughly acquainted with tlie respective areas within which these engineers were to ope'rate. The result of this survey showed that the total mileage was 1660 and the possible revenue from the consumers, £195,000 per annum. — Board's Permanent Officer. — On March 30th, 1920, the appointment of Mr C. Campbell as clerk and treasurer of the Board at a salary of £500 per annum was confirmed. — Survey and Design of Headworks.— On the same day an offer was made by Messrs Hay and Vickerman, in response to enquiries from the Board, to carry out the survey and design of the engineering [ work up to the turbine half-couplings, including plans, specifications, estimates, etc., at a fee of 21, per cent. on the estimated co3t. This was accepted by the Board. — The Agreement. — ■ Messrs Hay and Vickerman, having B'een most highly recommended to the Board, they were requested to and did on April 27th, 1920, lay before the Board the terms and conditions upon which they were prepared to undertake the worx required by the Board : (a) in connction with the survey and design of the whole scheme including generating works and the transmission and reticulation of the power throughout the whole of the district to be supplied by the Board ; (b) the control and supervision of the actual construction of the works and distribution lines. Details of the arrangement were fully discussed and considered in committee, and with the engineers, an agreement entered Into — which was not, however, finally executed until the 17th of July last — in which t*he following are the mam provisions 1. — As remuneration for the first portion of the work, namely, the survey and design, a payment shall be made equal to 2 per cent oi the estimate d cost of the work. This to cover and include the survey and design of the generating works up to the turbine half-couplings previous ly entrusted to Messrs Hay and Vickerman for a fee of per cent. of the estimated cost. For the second portion of the work, namely, the control and supervisfon of the construction, the engineers shall be pald a sum equal to three per cent. of the estimated cost. In effect, therefore, Messrs Hay and Vickerman receive a fee in the aggregate amounting to five per cent. of the estimated cost of the scheme, such estimated cost not to include their own fee. The engineers, for such fee, grovide all the engineers

both civil and electrical, and all labour in connection .with the survey and design, and supply to the Board all plans, drawing, specifications, and estimates, of quantities and costs ; and in connection with the construction they wiil provide, at theTr own expense, all surveyors, residentand assistant civil and electrical engineers aini draughtsmen, chainmen, and others down to but not including inspectors, and are wholly responsible fer the speed,( cost, and proper construction of the work. It is also provided that, after fhe design is completed, one of tlie pai'tners of Messrs Hay and Vickerman will give liig whole time to the Board's work. The time stipulated in the agi'eement for the construction of the work is 3 years, but should such construction be delayed for I'Casons and causes beyond the control of the engineers— beyond 3^ years, it is provided that the engineers will he entitled to additional remuneration, which, failing agreement between the parties, is t-o be settled by arbitration. If for any reason the Board should decide to c,ease work provision is made for the payment to the engineers of 3 per cent. on the actual work done only. Progress. payments will be made to the engineers in respect of their remuneration up to and not exceeding seventy-five per cent. of th actual work done from time to time. 2. — It is provided in the agreement that the design, including the plans and specifications of the scheme, shall be submitted to and approved by Mr Terry, until lately chief .electrical engineer of the Dominion. 3. — The engineers are entrusted with the management and superintendence of the whole of the "construction work on the lines and principles laid down by the Board and in accordance with the Govern. ment rcgulations. They have full charge of the construction department and will institute such costing systems, staff organisation, transport systems, store-xeep-ing and time-keeping methods as may from time to time be found necessary or required by the Board. 4. — The engineers will call for ancl advise the Board on all tenders for the supp]y of plant, materials and stores, and will report periodically on the progress of the works, giving detailed statements setting out the actual cost of the worx. done together with the estimated cost of the same work. 5. — The engineers are required to so carry out the construction work as to ensure that the whole of the area to be reticulated will receive the energy simultaneously, provided that the Board may at any time require any part or parts of the area to be reticulated betore the others. 6. — The engineers shall engage and control the whole of the construction staff subject to the approval of uie Board, and under this clause the Board has decided to fix the salari.es and wages to be paid by the engineers, leaving the selection and appointment of the men to the engineers with the special instruction that wnerever possible appointments should ../S made from local a.pplicants. — Sawmill. — On April 27th, 1920, the engmeers were authorised to purchase the needful plant for the erection of a sawmill at Diggers' Hill, approximately six miles from the headworks. The transportation oi the plant across the Waiau river involved the erection of a punt. The securing of a lease from the Crown of a sawmill area was also necessary. All of these matters have been attended to, while the timber required for bridges, culverts, temporary and permanent buildings, etc., will t>© cut at Diggers' Hill, the main output of the mill will be for tlxe staves for the pipe ! ihie to convey the v/ater from the weir | on the Monowai river to the penstocks at the power house on the Waiau river. The sawmill has been in working order and cutting timber for some two months, and the formation of the tramway from the sawmill to a poin on the main access road, about four miles from the headworks, is well in hand. — Consumers' Installations. — The Board has resolved that as soon as supplies of the necessary materials have been arranged for, contracts will be entered into with consumers for their instal. lations, the Board advancing the money until the power is made available, when the consumers will have three alternatives : (1) to pay the whole cost of such installation ; (2) to pay such cost by instalments, or (3) to pay rent for the use of such installation. Consumers may, of course, make arrangements apart from th0 Board, but, subject to the Board's approval, for the installation of their electrical eervice, but in such cases the Board will not lend monetary assistance. —Consumers' Installations.— The Board has resolved that as soon as supplies of the necessary materials have been arranged for, contracts will be entered into with consumers for their in

stallations, the Board advancing the money until the power is made available when the consumers will have thre8 alternatives : (1) to pay the whole cost of such installation ; (2) to pay such cost by instalments, or (3) to pay rent for the use of such installation. Consumers may, of course, make arrangements apart from the Board, but. subject to the Board's approval, for the installation of their electrical service, but in such cases the Board will not lend monetary assistance. — Local Authority Supply. — The policy of the Board is to encourage existing local authorities within - the Electric Power District to increa.se existing electrical plant or install temporary generating machinery with the object of encouraging consumers within their boundaries to link up immediately, so that when Monowai power becomes available the greatest possible demand will be forthcoming from each and all of these sources. With this object in view the Board may find it advisable to erect the lines between two or more towns in oue of which generating plant already exists, . and between the controlling authorities of which an agreement is entered into for the supply and demand of the power. The iines thus erected will serve the purpose of ihe local authorities pencnng the completion of the Monowai scheme, but will be, in reality, part and parcel of the Board's scheme as a whole. It is also the desire of the Board to assist the local authorities to obt-ain their supplies for r.eticulation purposes in every way possible. — The Work Ahead : The Board's Policy. — At the meeting of the Board held on 6th July, 1920, the Chairman submitted the following sfatement for consideration : "The time has now arrived when the Board should fully consider the work ahead. First, that which may be required of the- Board by the engineers in connection with the work of construction placed in their charge, and second, most important work that must be carried out independently of the engineers, but which must synchronise and dove-tail into the construction work so that the whole may be completed simultaneously. "The principal duties of the Board so far as construction work is concerned will be the provision of materiMs> plant, and machinery required by the engineers, the consideration of their progress reports, payment of account-s, and general supervision. Very considerable expenditure will be involved and deliveries of materials and machinery will be required expeditiously and according to timetable. "As to the work of the Board apart from construction, but during the period prior to its completion, this may be summed up in the one word 'Revenue.' It involves, however, great organisation and expenditure of money, time, and thought. The Board has approved the principle of financing the consumers in respect of their installations until the power is available, and this decision will undoubtedly have a considerable bearing on the increased revenue forthcoming before the scheme is completed. "It must be appreciated by the Board, however, that it is quite useless — in fact impossible — to attempt to further canvass for consumers and enter into contracts for wiring the houses and the supply of appliances until the Board has itself entered into contracts for the wholesale supply of all these requirements. The members of the Board need only tliink for one moment to realise the magnitude of all this undertaking : — Wire, conduit, plugs, switches, lamps (of all descriptions), heaters, cookers, irons, motor s, etc., etc., and these for thousands of different consumers will be needed. It is assumed in this statement that the Board is itself going to carry out the work of installation and the supply of goods, and this is one of the questions that require immediate decision. "A further essential preliminary to a canvass being entered upon and contracts being entered into in respect of installation is the ratification by the Board of the undertakings with consumers entered into by the Southland Eleatrification Committee. "The magnitude of the requirements of the Board suggests that it should consider whether it will deal through accreditsd agents of the manufacturers or get into direct touch with them. If the latter is decided upon, how is it to be carried out, and this does not only apply to the immediately preceding paragraph, but also to the machinery, poles, wire, insulators, etc., required by the engineers. "The oharacter of the work of the Board is purely commercial, and the whole undertakmg may be likened to a large commercial company controlled by a board of directors. Every such undertaking has necessarily a managing director or manager to conduct the business, and the Board should now decide whether

similar arrangements should not be made in connection with the scheme in hand. "The questions to come before the Board are these "1. Are the contracts entered into by the Electrificatidn Committee fo'r the supply of power to consumers to be taken over and ratified by the Board? 2. Is it the Board's intention to carry out a further canvass for consumers? 3. Is the Board going to carry out the work of wiring the buildings, installing and supplying the appliances, etc., as required by consumers? 4. Is the Board going to get into direct touch with manufacturers for the supply of its requirements ? 5. If so, is this to be done by mail, cable, or personal representation on behalf of. the Board. 6. Is a General Manager or Manager to be appointed? - 7. If so, what steps are to be taken to get this done immediately ? . 8. What duties does the Board expect to devolve upon its Chairman? Having considered the above statement the following resolutions were passed .by the Board — (1) Consumers' Contracts. — That • the contracts entered into with consumers by the Southland Electrification Committee, Mr A. W. Rodger being the second party to the agreement and acting as trustee, shall be taken over and ratified by the Bpard as and when it is found practicable to do so. (2) Consumers' Further Canvass. — That a further canvass for possible consumers be undertaken when the Board is in a position to give definite quotations for installing and equipping dwellings, etc., in anticipation of the power becoming availablef (3) Consumers' Installations. — That in order to further encourage consumers to wire their buildings in readiness to receive the power supply from Monowai, as per the resolution of the Board of 27th April, 1920, the Board will undertake to carry out the actual work of wiring and equipping the buildings in all cases where it is requested to do so by the consumers. Further, that the Board will undertake' to provide at the cheapest possible rate, electrical appliances for the use of consumers within the district. (3a) Consumers' Installations. — Security against advances by Board_. That the Board's solicitors be requested, should they deem it practicable, to include in the suggested amendments to the Electric Power Boards' Act, a cla-use providing for the security of a Board against any advances that may be made to consumers within an Electric Power District in respect of wiring buildings, erection of private pole lines, and the supply of equipment, etc., by the Board. (4) Appliances and Machinery. — Contracts therefore. That with the object of entering into contracts for tbe supply to the Board of the necessary machinery, plant, materials and appliances for the carrying out of -the scheme, including the consumers' requirements ; the Board get into direct touch with the manufacturers. (5.) Chairman's Visit Abroad. — That with a view to- enabling the Board to get into direct touch with the manufacturers, the Chairman to proceed, at the earliest possible date, to England and such other countries as may be found erpedient to carry out the Board's wishes in this direction. Mr A. W, Rodger agreed to proceed abroad as desired by the Board, which -will bear the _actual out-of-pocket expenses involved. Mr W. Hinchey was appointed to act as chairman during the absence of Mr Rodger. (6) Chairman's Duties: That the duties devolving upon Mr A. W. Rodger as chairman, shall be equivaient to those of the Managing Director of a commereial company, it being the desire of the Board that Mr Rodger should be, and shall act as if he had " been appointed Chairman and Managing Director _ had such appointment been possible under the Electric Power Boards Act. (7) Remuneration of Chairman : That in the event of sub-section 1 of section 20 of the Electric Power Boards Act being amended as drafted by the solicitors, it be a recommendation to the Minister of Public Works that the remuneration of the chairman shall b'e £1000 per annum. — Finance. — It has not been found popible to complete on satisfactory terms the tentative arrangements entered into by Sir Joseph Ward in London prior to the formation of the District and the election of the Board. Arrangements of a satisfactory nature have been made for temporary finance enabling the Board to proceed with the work wdthout interruption or delay. —Bluff Depot (Shipments).— Large' quantities of material and plant, including many thousands of poles, required by the BoaTd, will be landed at Bluff and such polcs will necessarily be dealt with there ; that is to say, they

wiill require to be cut to the required lengths, slotted and bored, tarred at the butts and numbered prior to dispatch to the railway sidings whence.they will be distributed by motor lorry to their allotted position on the road .lines. — Tenders. — Tenders have been invited, to be in tbe hands of the Board by the 18th of January, 1921, for the supply of the generating plant, including the turbines, generators and switch gear, and for transformers. A schedule accompanying the report shows that the amount of the contracts entered into to date is £143,832 17s 3d, and that the estimate had been £154,851 6s 8d. — Local Autbority Supply. — The policy of the Board is to encourage existing local authorities within the Electric Power Board to increase existing electrical plant or instal temporary generating machinery with the object of encouraging consumers within their boundar. ies to link np immediately, so that when Monowai power becomes available the greatest possible demand will be forthcoming from each and all of these sonrces. With thi3 object in view the Board may find it advisable to erect the lines between two or more towns in one of which generating plant already exists, and between the controlling authorities of which an agreement is entered into for the supply and demand of the power. The lines thug erected will serve the purpose of the local authorities pending the completion of the Monowai scheme but will be, in reality, part and parcel of the Board's scheme as a whole. It is also the desire of the Board to assist the local authorities to obtain their supplies for reticulation purposes in every way possible. — The Board's Bankers and Solicitors. — The appointment of the National Bank of New Zealand, Ltd., as the Board's bankers has been confirmed, and Messrs Macalister Bros. have been appointed solicitors to the Board. — Public Offices. — After much deliberation and after. having inspected many proposals submitted to the Board for consideration, the property owned by the Palace Estate Company, comprising three-quarters of an acre in Dee street, upon which, amongst others, the building known ^,s the Carrier's Arms Hotel stands, was purchased at a cost of £10,600. The needful alterations to the hotel buildings . (all of which are on a quarter-acre section) are now being carried ont", the estimated cost of th'e alterations being under £2000. When these alterations have been completed sufficient office, showroom, garage and_ storage" accommodation of a convenient character will be available to serve the Board ior the next few yearshy which time the scheme will he completed and the future requirements of the Board in these respects will be ascertained. The intention of the Board is then to erect new buildings to meet these requirements. These will •he erected on the remaining half-a-cre section extending between Dee and Leven streets. The Board will then dispose of the buildings, including the quarter-acre section at present being renovated, Meanwhile the capital charges, rates, etc., less the rents receivable from the buildings on the half-acre section at present available for lease, leave the Board with but a reasonable rent for its own accommodation. — Remuneration of the Board. — Provision is made in the Electric Power Boards Act exactly similar to that contained in the Locai Railways Act of 1914 (upon which the Electric Power Boards I Act was based) whereby the members of the Board may be paid such renumeration for their services as may from time to time be fixed by regulation duly gazetted. Under this clause the Board de•cided to recommend to the Minister of Public Works that the members b,e paid £1 ls each member for each meeting, and this has met with the Minister's approval. ° — Customs Duty. — Representatives have been made to tbe Minister of Public Works that, in' view of the f act that the Power Board, in constructing the generating works at Monowai, is actually carrying out duties that have devolved upon the Government in other parts of the Dominion, should be placed in exactly . the same position as the Public Works Department in so far as the importation , of machinery and other dutible material is concerned, that is to say, that the Board's requirements should he allowed to come into the country duty free. — Telephonic Communication with Headworks. — Having regard to the urgent necessity for telephonic communication between the office in Invercargill and the different depotg up to the headworks, namely, Tuatapere, Sunnyside, the sawmill, and Monowai, arrangements have been made with th# Post and Telegraph Department

whereby a special service will Be provided from Tuatapere on the existing poles of the Departmerfo so far as they are serviceable, with the provision that when the transmission line from Monowai to Waikiwi has been erected the i material at present being used and provided by the Board will be transferred to the Board's transmission line. REPORT BY ENGINEERS. NOTES OF DESIGN Aiw GOiV STRUCTION. Messrs F. C. Hay and H. Yickerman, engineers to the Southland Power Board, have reported on design and construction as follows : — The work to ihe done is the construction of an 8000-h.p. generating station (Monowai No. 2), erection of miin transmission and sub-stations and the secondary transmission and feeder system — the -latter assumed to entail 2000 miles of pole lines. Every portion of the work has to be correctly designed in detail according to the following principles : — (1) Reliability. (2) Economy. (3) Future expansion. (4) Utilisation natural resources. (5) Speedy construction. (6) Government standard and interconnection with national schemes. 1. — Reliability "demands that any structures, works, or machines liable to break down must be so designed that the renewals can be effected without stopping the station, and the remaining plant, structures or works in operation must safely carry a big percentage of overload temporarily varying from 25 to 100 per cent. The question of steam standby and relay station to be considered under this head. 4. — Economy : Economy of yearly cost, which requires that the sum of fixed charges, maintenance, renewal, and.opera. tion expenses per year must be the least possible, is the true criterion of economy and governs design, except inasmuch as it is influenced by the following consideration : When a revenue-producing system is being built it is. good business .to give economy of first cost and speed of construction due weight in the design, so that tbe interest burden is not too heavy, and so that revenue can be got at earliest date. 3. — Future Expansion : Design must be tested as to whether it is the best fitted for future expansion and for full develop. ment of the power resources, and the fact borne in mind that works and machinery should be standardised, so that the full development is not a collection of different designs and ideas, but the expression of the best ideas in the simplest ' form. 4. — Utilisation Natural Resources : The design should use the labour and material on the spot if it is suitable, to get speedy construction and to have the money raised in the district spent there. 5. — -Speed of Construction : There is a certain speed of construction which is the most economical, and this speed helps to ux the programme of works. The fastest rate of -construction is found by taking what is obviously the biggest part of the work and seeing how quick it can be done economically ; then test all other parts by it and organise to have them done to finish at the same time as the longest job. This is influenqed by factors such as weather, labour, materials, plant, etc., and dogs not permit at the present time of exact calculation — but the principle is to keep down the interest on construction bill as much as possible. It is clear ttiat if the job took four years to complete, it would be bad business to buy £100, £00 of machinery in the first year to lie idle for three years, unless, of course,- the market were rising. 6.— Government Stap.dard and Interoonection with Natior a-l Scheme : It is essential that all details of design and construction are up to the Government's standard, and that the electrical system as a whole will fit. in with any Government proposal for reticulation of the South Island. It is clear that the successful design of the scheme is the work of the civil and electrical engineers working together in perfect harmony. Construction. — The biggest job is the' 2000 miles- of pole line for the country reticulation, and the speed of construction of this work will be governed by the rate of delivery of poles. To get quick deliveries we are of the opinion that pole3 should be purchased in Australia at all possible depots there, and that the Power Bomxl should charter or purchase sufficient tonnage to bring the poles to the Bluff at an average rate of 750 poles per week. Three 500-ton steamers of 9ft draft specially built for timber carriage and coastal work would be the most satisfactory craft. Such craft are now running on the Australian coast. Given the shipa there is do doubt that the whole of the poles and cross-arms required for Southland would be delivered at the Bluff within two years.