ELECTRIC POWER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 86, 11 April 1922, Page 7

ELECTRIC POWER.

» MEETING OF THE BOARD. OFFICES AND STORES SITE DISCUSSED. The Auckland Electric Power Board met at the City Council Chamber yesterday afternoon. Air. W. J. Holdsworth presided, and there were present Messrs. E. H. Potter, J. Rowe, R. G. Clark, S. J. Harbutt, H. T. Goldie, S. I. Crookcs, T." Bloodworth, J. Dempsey, H. N. Bagnall and M. J. Bennett. 11l a report the engineer, Mr. A. Wyllie recommended that the board immediately proceed with the erection of a building to accommodate the board's offices and stores on the power station site in Quay Street. He pointed out that the present storerooms were altogether inadequate and unsafe and must he quickly removed to make room for the new railway siding. As there was a large amount of material to be stored the new stores would have to be on a large scale. He suggested that the offices should be spacious enough to meet all the 'board's requirements, the present temporary offices already being too cramped. They would need to arrange the new offices efficiently, and nowhere could this be done so cheaply as on their own ground. It would be a great advantage to have all the offices, stores and meter department centralised in one spot, and Quay Street was already an important business centre. ADJOINING SECTION REQUIRED. The engineer urged the board to acquire the adjoining Harbour Board section, as without it it would be impossible to provide sufficient coal storage and space for the water sub-station. The total area of 4_ acres would be none too small for the size of the power station. In reply to questions the engineer stated that it would be advisable to hold about 5000 tons of coal in storage, thus providing about five or six weeks' supply. When supplying power to the city tramways the plant would use nearly 1000 tons of coal a week. He estimated that the buildings for offices and stores would cost about ".C12.000 or £13,000. Mr. Harbutt opposed the proposal to build the offices on the Quay Street frontage of the station site. They would, he said, need a showroom, which with the offices should be easily accessible to the public. The present site was an ideal one for the power station aud the stores, but the offices should be iii one of the most prominent places in the city. Mr. T. Bloodworth said he could not see how the convenience of the public couid be met by having the offices at Quay Street. He thought that both the ofi'iccs and showrooms should be more central. After further discussion it was decided that the matter be referred back to the engineer, and that lie be asked to present a further report embracing two schemes - -one showing the plant with the offices on the present site, and the other without the offices. In this way it would be seen what space there was for the storage of coal without, the acquisition of the additional section. CHAIRMAN'S HONORARIUM. The question of the chairman's honorarium was introduced by Mr. Howe, who mentioned that the Auckland Harbour Board had fixed the honorarium of its chairman at .1.-200. He moved that the Power Board should pay a like amount. After discussion it was decided that the honorarium should be £300, The chairman, in thanking the members, said that he would not allow anything to stand in the way of his devoting all the time necessary to the work of the board. The engineer presented a statement of estimated income and expenditure required by tile Act. This showed that the income wouid be approximately £14*i,000 to March 31. 1923. while the estimated expenditure was .€141,000, made up of working expenses, 1.70.000; interest and sinking fund .CtiO.OSO (old loans £13,980, new loans £4.3,000): interest payable to Auckland City Council (6J per cent on £108.000). approximately £7020; transfer fees and costs, £3000. This would leave a surplus of £4000. In his opinion this was a conservative estimate. He hoped the income mentioned would be exceeded and the expenditure reduced. He asked for further time to enable him to complete his report on finances and further extensions. He mentioued that he was dealing witli the reticulation of Mount Albert, Mount Eden. Mount Roskill. OnehunKa. and EUerslie: also the remaining portions of One Tree Hill, Kpsom. and Remuera. It was agreed to give the extension of time asked for. The engineer urged the board to immediately raise a further 10 per cent on the £500.000 loan to meet additions for I which tenders "had already been called. j This was approved.