S.C. POWER BOARD

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18150, 13 August 1924, Page 5

S.C. POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. [S2Z.CU.L TO "THE ?H253.") TIMARU, August IL\ The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Power Board was held to-day. Mr J. Kennedy presided, and others present were: Messrs K. Mackenzie, J, Anstey, C. E. Kerr, •S. T. Pitch, C. J. Talbot, W. Hsyman, G. J. Wallace, J. E. Brace, and W. E. Mills. The chairman stated that, in compliance ■with the Board's request, lie had interviewed the Acting- Chief Electrical Engineer, when in Wellington, and obtained the following information: —The representative of the Ashburton Power Board, in an endeavour to obtain the Minister's consent to the proposed development of the North Branch scheme, urged that if this was done, there would be no necessity for the Government to erect a second, line from Coleridge to Ashburton. The Ashburton deputation then came over the boundary into South Canterbury, and advised the Government to erect a. stand- ' i by plant at Timaru, and supplied figures prepared by its engineer, in an endeavour to show that the requirements of this district could thus be met at a lower cost than by the erection of a, second line. The Minister, iii his written reply to the Ashburton Board, stated that the figures prepared by.your engineer, when Scrutinised in the light of this Department's own estimates, do not show the proposal to bo so favourable as anticipated. He further stated that: "Prom the point of view o£ supplying South Canterbury, the new transmission line would appear to be tho better alternative," and that "I see no sufficient reason to change my decision with regard to the erection of the second transmission line." The chairman said he was sure that the Board wished tho Ashburton Board every success in any movement that is for the benefit of its own district, but it was to be regretted that the Ashburton representatives urged the Minister to alter his declared policy in regard to South Canterbury. The Pleasant Point Town Board had written asking the Board to raise a loan for the reticulation of tho Pleasant Point town district. The sub-committee appointed to inspect sites for a sub-station at Temuka had secured a very suitable sito at the corner of Birkett street and Wilmhurst road. During his visit to Wellington tho acting chief electrical engineer informed him that electrical energy supplied to the Timaru Borough Council would be charged to the South Canterbury Board, and the borough' would in future purchase from the Board.

The Executive Committee reported that an offer to supply blue'gnm crossarms at L'2s per 100 super feet on trucks at Itakaia had been received, and the committee recommended that the engineer should bo authorised to order the quantity required. • The committee recommended that tenders should be called for tho supply of a two-ton Speed truck for general cartage; a half-ton truck for the inspector, and a runabout car for tho manager. They also recommended that the offer of the Public Works Department to grant the Board tho use of five feeder panels at the Grant's Hill sub-station, at a rental of £29 per annum each, be accepted in lieu of tho Board providing its own panels.

The Waitaki Power Board wrote that, for some time, they had been considering tho' question of bringing pressure to bear on the Government to erect the main transmission line from Waipori to Coleridge, in line with their declared policy. On June 13th tho chairman and engineer of the Board conferred with the Otago Board, and met with a very sympathetic rceep tion. It was suggested that the four bodies concerned —Otago, Waitaki, and South Canterbury Power Boardß, and tho Timaru Borough Council—should join forces, and approach tho Government on the matter. Tho Waitaki Board suggested that the following should bo the main points in favour of the erection of the line' mentioned. —(1) Lake Coleridge was at present; fully loaded, and would be over-loaded during the nest two winters, as it was practically certain that the duplication could not be completed for the winter of 1926; (2) a second line was necessary to avoid the frequent breakdowns at presont experienced in Timaru; (3) a secnod power supply was also necessary to supplement the present Coleridge supply, which, without doubt, would soon be limited; (4) a line from Waipori would provide both the second line and a further power supply long before Coleridge could be duplicated —if erected at once; (5) tho completion of the line right through, with a power station at each end, would greatly improve the voltage regulation and keep pressure much steadier, while, at the same time, providing supply to the Waitaki Board and other district? on the way. They understood that the South Canterbury Board was bcin,~ urged to develop Tekapo, and this wa--desirable in many ways; but it would mean a' longer delay than if the main Waipori-Coleridge line were erected now. Another factor was the. cost of the Tekapo scheme, which, of course, would be considerable, and, as ample power was promised from Coleridge when duplicated, the Waitaki Board believed it would he futile asking tho Government to allow Tekapo to bo developed until Coleridge was well loaded up again. The time would then be opportune' for the Government itself to undertake the work.

Mr G. J. Wallace said he would like to see the South Canterbury Board assisting Oamaru to secure power, and moved the following resolution, which was carried: "That"this Board co-oper-ate with the Waitaki Power Board in arranging a conference of the Boards and Council mentioned in their ietter, with a view to securing hydro-electric power for the Oamaru district." Mr Anstey moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr Hayman: —"That tho Minister of Public Works be written to asking him to now undertake an investigation of the development at Tekapo, before proceeding with the erection of the second transmission line to Tiroaru, with a view of a development at Tekapo at once, either by the Public Works Department, or by local effort, as tho distance from Tekapo was shorter than from Coleridge, and therefore less costly. The cost over and above the_ proposed second line was comparatively small. As the Waitaki Power Boara was now urgently requiring power, and a saving bv leaving out the second line would be effected, the time was particularly opportune for the" development of Tekapo. That a copy of the resolution bo forwarded to the member for Timaro, asking him to interview tho Minister for Public Works, and asking him for his best efforts to give effect Mr Anstev said that the essence of his resolution was to stop the second transmission line. ■Mr Wallace moved an amendment aa follows, Mr Mills seconding:—"That the development of Lake- Tekapo and the complete reticulation of South Canterbury, including the Borough of Timaru as integral part, be submitted to a poll of ratepayers at an early date." Mr Wallace said that bis object in moving the amendment was to give local ratepayers a voice in the matte.-. There "was no advantage in getting Gov-

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eminent power from Tekapo in preference to getting Government power from Coleridge, In reply to a question, tho manager stated that a poll would cost between £OSO and £7OO. That was the approximate cost of tho recent polL After discussion, the amendment w?w lost oo the casting vote of the chair-, man, asd the motion carried.