POWER SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 301, 20 December 1937, Page 8

POWER SUPPLY.

INCREASED SALES.

WAITEMATA BOARD MEETS.

increases in sales of current were reported at a meeting this afternoon of the Waitemata Electric Power Board by the manager, Mr. A. Main. The figures revealed an increase of £684 in the sale* for last month, comparc-d with the corresponding mouth last year, and an increase of £14.640 for the eight monthly period ended November 30 over the sales for the same period of 1936.

The gross sales of current last month were £10,031, and for the eight months of the financial year £90.729. against £9347 and £76,089 respectively in 1936.

It was further reported that 106 now consumers had been added to the board's system in November, and consumers now totalled 12,959.

The fact that there was a definite danger of the switohgear at the Henderson sub-station breaking down was mentioned by the engineer. Mr. C. M. Gray, who recommended that the gear be replaced during the current financial year. Originally Mr. Gray suggested that the gear should be replaced next year after attention had been given this year to the Takapuna sub-station. The purchase of additional switchgear units to enable the work to be speeded up, explained the engineer, would approximate £650. Work at Naval Base. Mr. Gray added that in connection with the reorganisation of the Naval Base at Devonport, tho Navy Office now required all cables within the base area to be underground. It had been necessary in the circumstances to make use of underground cable delivered for tho new Takapuna-Devonport feeder, and he recommended that this be replaced bv an order for 1000 yards of cable at a cost of approximately £350. It was explained further bv Mr. Gray that he anticipated heavy increases in load during next winter." He therefore recommended that tenders be called immediately for the supply of £-">770 worth of materials, including copper transformers and hardwood poles. Satisfactory progress with works during the month was reported upon bv Mr. Main, who stated that the main line from Way by to Wcllsford had boon completed, as also had the reticulation of v\ ellsford township. The line had been tested and livened on November *4 Practically all the low tension work on the line from Kaipara Flats to Welkford had been completed, and a start would be made immediately with the Port Albert lines.

In conclusion, Mr. Main said that the inspecting engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr. Cameron, had completed his annual inspection of the board's system, and had reported very favourably on the very high standard of the rural construction work l>eiiig carried out by the engineer. He was also hi«- ; i!v pleased with the supply -vsum".! generally.