EXTENSION TO BOROUGH

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 14048, 1 May 1946, Page 2

EXTENSION TO BOROUGH

THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY

Council’s Letter To Power

Board

Initial Steps To Transfei

Area

A letter from the Tauranga Borough Council in connection with the transfer to the council ot the board’s electricity supply m the block from Hospital Street to the southern Side of Courtenay Road, caused considerable surprise to members at the monthly meeting ot the Tauranga Electric Power Board yesterday. The board decided to reply to the council expressing surprise at the contents of the letter as the board had not contemplated transfer!mg any of its area and stating that it would .he quite prepared to piovide street lighting if requested. The letter from the Borough Engineer (Mr C. W. Boak) said that as the board was no doubt aware the remit of a recent petition from certain ratepayers in the Tauranga county had been an extension to the borough of Tauranga. This extension included the block from Hospital Street to the southern side of Courtenay Hoad. *

In connection with the distribution of electric supply in this area at present supplied by the hoard, continued the, letter, the council would certainly have to instal and supply considerable additional electrical amenities which the residents at present did not enjoy. The engineer stated that he was instructed by the council to take the initial steps with the board in the direction of a transfer of this supply area by requesting it to advise the valuation of the board's equipment, comprising poles, lines, transformers, services, metering etc., within this particular section.

To effect the necessary primary supply, added the letter, the council’s 11KV line at present leased to the board would require amendment in length to terminate at Courtenay Road, but this would not otherwise affect the use the board would require from the remaining portion of the line!

The Borough Engineer concluded by stating that he would appreciate the board’s early consideration of this question and its reply in due course.

The chairman (Mr S. C. Baron) said that it appeared it was not a question of approaching the board as to whether it wanted to transfer this area, but preliminary arrangements for acquiring it. Mr J. T. Reid referred to the passage in the letter concerning the providing of certain amenities which the board could not. He asked if that were so.

The chairman; No. Mr Reid: Then it should he con tradicted.

The board’s engineer (Mr J. R. Berngard) explained that the board , , i had a certain area to administer and it took quite' a time to change the boundaries.

The view that the Borough Council should have authority from the Public Works Department, was expressed by Mr J. B. McKinney. The proper course, pointed out the chairman, was for the council to approach the board to see if it wanted to part with that area. The secretary (Mr J. R. Chambers) stated that the alteration of the borough boundary did not automatically change the board’s reticulation area.