BANKS PENINSULA ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIX, Issue 6186, 6 March 1936, Page 1

BANKS PENINSULA ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

f I f A meeting- of the Board wa ; held on Monday. Present: Messr ;C. E. Kay (in chair), F. Davis ;J. K. .Thacker, A. M. Helps, J jV. Chapman, 0. R. Brad-ey, J ; 0. Coop, F. A. Lewthwaite. (Er gineer), anid H. L. Lewthwa.it | (Secretary). | Motion of Sympathy. The chairman referred to th '.loss the district had sustained b; I the death of a descendant of onof thoir pioneers, Mrs Henr; White, a daughter of the late M and Mrs W. Coop. He extende* to Mr J. 0. Coop and his famil: ( their condolence in the loss the; had .sustained. ; The motion was carried ii I silence, all' standing. \ Mr J. Coop on 'behalf of th< ■jf.-uni'y thanked the chairman fo: jpis motion of sympathy. Inspection of Scheme. The engineer reported in re gun! !,o the appointment of ar •inspector. > The chairman said, that the inspection of the plant was over laluc and the Board must appoint j/an ' spector who could do can /vas :;: ''g work as well '] In answer to Mr Coop the en jgsgeer said/ the inspector's dut} iminded the re-testing of a! nye.ers an.d other appliances. Chapman said he did not the inspection anid canvas* went together. They should i'go traig'ht on with the inspection . if hhey were Tate. i Vhe chairman said the in spec tfj] could notify any likely cons'v :i:rs and the engineer could A>\. <w it up. ] T.r Chapman said, the inspectoi maid be inclined to waste toe ntn-h. time in- talking. The engineer said that if an inspector got fresh consumers and sold power it was a gain' for all time. The Board diid not push the sale of current as they should. M:r Helps moved the engineer's recommendation that Mr N. H. Field be: appointed inspector as from Ist April, 1936 ; seconded by Mr Bradley and carried. Loan Debentures. In regard to the 1936 authority for loam of £1000 it was decided io issue two debentures of £100 each at once and these were taken by Mr O. Bradley. Ten Per Cent Penalty. The secretary asked whether the Board) could issue reminder notices about the date on which the ten per cent penalty was due. Mr J. E. Thacker moved that the Board discontinue, sending our circulars reminding ratepayers of the date at which the ten per cent penalty was due ; seconded by Mr Chapman and carried. Members considered that ratepayers had sufficient notice of the date at whi.ch. the ten per cent penalty was due. Secretary's Report. "The position of the Board's accounts is : Loan Account Credit V 22 17s : sd; Power Fund Account Credit' £2476 3s 8d; Accounts presented for payment total £511 18s 4d. Next month there will be a larger pay-out than usual when the three items, interest, sinking fund and cost of power will' account for approximately £5000. Tlie net revenue lor clcctnc supply for the last quarter compared) with the. corresponding quarter of the preious years is as under: —■ _ Domestic: 19.35 1034 '2126 0 7 2144 15 8 (Decrease £18 15 1) Commercial' '• 1935 1-034 479 14 0 317 7 6 (Increase £162 7 3) Power: 1935 3031 750 16 3 '827 1 6 (Decrease £76 5 3) Discount: 1935 1931 202 10 5 202 7 3 1935 1934 Total £3154 1 2 £3086 17 5 (Increase £67, 3 9) Consumptions of Units. Domestic: 1935 .1031 289,681 268,702 (Increase 20,979') Commercial: : 1935 1934

3 76,437 35,393 (Increase: 41,044) Power: 1935 1931 76,910 88,632 3 (Decrease 11,722) s 1935 1931 i, Total 443,028 392,727 • Total Increase 50,301 Average revenue per unit : 2 • 1935 1.71 d 1934 I.BBd Engineer's Report. - "During the month the line: 1 staff has been employed on tin ? following work :— T Stringing larger low tensioi conductors and a three phase ii I place of a single phase transform 7 er supplying Messrs R. Gebbi( r and Clayton, Ted.dington. Finish ing pole replacements and line 1 overhaul at Port Levy. Consru.c ting a section of high tension ir ; place of low tension line a: authorised) near the Port Levj wharf. Stringing larger conduc tors on the low tension line to J Flaherty. Clearing grass fron sub-stct&on enclosures. _ Fitting ' two additional sets of lightning arrestors on. the Port Levy line jTightening some slack high ten . s'on line atAkaroa. Fitting a nev iK.V. air break switch at Du ; vauchelle su'b-station. _ Removinc a disused low tension line at Por Levy. Ninety-two poles were, erectec an;d; 117 removed while 226 chains c.f wire was strung and 310 chains removed) at Port Levy and Teddington. The additional connected load is 12.756 K.W. bringing the total to 4535.220 K.W. Inckidec ' :"i i'C I One electric range, total 22c ! ; Two Waterlieaters total 20? One dairy motor total 19/ One disused house was disconnected from the: lines reducing thn number of consumers to 1012 The increase in the connectec load i'or the past eleven months is 151.822 K.W. while for the corresponding period, last year it was 187.547 K.W. A severe electrical storm or the 6th caused a serious interruption in the Puaha and Port Levy area. A' number of transformer and H.T. section fuses were blown and one conductor severed near the Port Levy summit, The same area was subjected to another interruption on the 9th when flooding of the river at Puaha caused a tree to fall- on the 33 K.V. line. One. 33 K.V. conductor was brought into contact with a 3.3 K.V. wire carried on the same- poles and while a momentary interiuption only occurred on the main line, the excess voltage on; the distribution line caused all trans-former fuses to blow and opened the switch at the sub-station. Additional lightning arrestors have since been fitted on the Port Levy line and should minimise the effect of any future electrical storms or contacts with the higher voltage line.. One interruption at Kaituna Valley was caused by a bird striking the H.T. lines, bringing one down, while an- interruption of several hours duration was caused on the Kaituna Lakeside Feeder through a _bird striking and twisting the- wires. Otoe 6.6 K.V. distribution transformer was damaged at Grehan Valley through a L.T. line short circuiting but has since been repaired. The set of 33 K.V. lightning arrestors required l rfor replacement of a defective one and the three additional sets of 6.6 K.V. arrestors authorised have been ordered: Prices have been obtained for two light trucks and are submitted) for your consideration. The pipe line .f rom Grehan Val'ey to the. rcsevoir was damaged and a joint disconnected by a small' slip during the recent heavy rain but has since been repaired." The engineer referred to the difficulty of keping the grass down at the Sub-stations. If it was allowed to grow it became a danger later in the case of fire. A discussion ensured in regard to the best methods of eradicating grass and weeds. It was resolved that the engineer be authorised to procure necessary chemicals to eradicate the grass. The secretary's and 1 engineer's reports were adopted. New Trucks The engineer submitted prices for two new trucks which were considered. iMr Helps moved that the Board, purchase two Ford) trucks and it be, left to the engineer tc

arrange the purchase. . Seconded' by Mr Bradley. Mr Coop moved that two Beeford trucks be procured l as the; . were British. The amendment was not sec onded. • Mr Thacker said that as th> other trucks were all Fords i might be: an? advantage to hav the trucks all, of one; kind'. I would simplify the matter o parts. Mr Coop said the Board, shouh deal with the English firms i possible. > Mr Helps motion to purchas< two Ford trucks was carried. i Accounts. i .Accounts amounting to £51' were passed for payment. CORRESPONDENCE. The Public Trustee wrote thai the sum £380 could be used as depreciation in the present yeai i and also that he. would act as Sinking Fund Commissioner tc the Board. Miscellaneous. The National Mortgage air. Agency Company wrote re liabil- ■ ities of debtors. Messrs Meares, Williams, anc Holmes wrote, re rates enclosing cheque. A draft circular to all schools warning scholars not to touch fallen wires, was received. It was decided to write to the secretary of Power Board Authorities and ask what had 'been done about' the remit, on the subject ol fallen wires. The Technical Publications wrote in regard' to fences tc lines of the necessity of earthing fences and enclosing instructions, In answer to Mr Coop the. engineer said it wasi better to have the pipe; in moist ground rounc which the wire was wound. In, answer to Mr Chapman the engineer said insulating would not last long in the case of higli tension wires. Mr Chapman asked if it woulc insulate if the: fence were broken', A half chain break would reduce the danger. The engineer said the break in the fence would minimise the danger:. | Mr Bradley suggested that a section of wooden fencing be interposed close to the line,. j The engineer exhibited danger 'cards which had been, printed some years ago for schoolchildren, j It was resoved the school'masters and chairmen of committees be notified that, if they had no cards they should make application to thej Board aliso that they be asked to notify the children , twice a year of the. d'anger of i fallen wires. Working Hours. The Master Baker and' Pastrycooks' Association wrote protesting against the curtailment of hours l which meant an increase in the price of the loaf. The hours I

of starting should not :be made any later if the public were to be served. The South Canterbury Power 'Board wrote asking the Board to support the Master Bakers' Association ini their protest. Mr Coop moved l the: Board support the South Canterbury Power Board in the protest; seconded, by Mr Bradley and carried. Current Stoppages. The N.Z. Broadcasting Board wrote in 1 regard to stoppages at the Gebbie's Valley Station. The engineer said that it took the Radio station over two | minutes to put' their auxiliary into action. Little River Post Office. The Post and Telegraph Department wrote in, regard to a range at the new Little River Post Office that they would consider the matter later. Telephone Lines. The Poafe and Telegraph Department wrote also asking permission to put telephone wires on the Board's lines to Mr Ower's residence and. offering to pay at the rate: of 5s per pote. . The engineer said an annual rental! would 'be a better 'proposition). :Mr Coop moved that it be left to the; chairman and engineer to make arrangements with the Post and Telegraph Department; seconded by Mr Davis and carried l . A consumer wrote dicontihuinig a range for the winter. Another consumer wrote asking to" have a range put in his house. The Okain's Bay Factory wrote in regard to the wire to the. overhead whey, pipes, which were not ' insulated asking that these be insul'atedl The engineer said that this matter was being looked into, Damage by Flailing Trees. The Associated Power Boards wrote in regard to the, damage caused by falling trees on wires in the late galie and in the late windstorm; in the North Island, asking the amount of damage over the last five years and the amount of damage through 70 to 100 miles 1 per hour gales. The engineer had given the cost from: 1921 to 1928 as approximately £65'. In the case of 70 to 100 m.p.h. gale for 8 to 12 hours only casual damage was anticipated. In discussing his reply, the engineer said that the. five years included a snowstorm which caused considerable damage. The, secretary said that a reso- ■ lution had been passed suggesting that Power Boards' be given greater powers to cut down trees. Mr Helps said he considered trees were a national asset and it was a : pity to cut down any more.

He would like to see the Power Boards go along the. roads and' move the lines Aviiere possible to save the trees. The engineer said the trouble was that it saved a large amount to keep to the roads. Mr C. Breitmeyer' wrote protesting at having to pay the cost of damage due to felling a tree. The engineer said that the cost 'had! been kept as low as possible but the board had to charge for damage caused through felling trees. Work by Unqualified Men. A discussion ensued; in regard to consumers having work put in to their residences which is not carried out by a fully qualified man It was due to the consumer to see that the man employed was authorised to do the work. Mr Bradley said that half the residents on Banks Peninsula did not know this and unqualified people put in all kinds of work. The engineer said the onus was on the: consumer to know the regulations under which electricity was supplied. It was decided that the Board subscribe to the N.Z. Electrical Journal Accounts Written Off. Accounts amounting to £7 2s lOd for .electrical supply were written off. •Rates amounting to £3 13s 7d were written off. Electric Clock, The engineer requested permission to buy an electric clock at. Duvauchelle to record stoppages of current on the Public Works line. The clock would record, every stoppage, though not the duration of the stoppage. By this means every momentary stoppage would be recorded: It was left in the hands ol the engineer to procure, a suitable clock, on the motion of Mr Chapman seconded by Mr Bradley,