POWER BOARD.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19805, 18 December 1929, Page 3

POWER BOARD.

NORTH CANTERBURY. The monthly meeting of the North Canterbury Electric Power Board was held at jtCangiora, 5-eaterday. Present: Messrs H. Xallott (chairman), J. Fitzpatxick, A. M. Carpenter, A. Baxter, I). R. HutclusoE, i. Cowens. L. B. Evans, and. J. D. Wyilie. The secretary of the Oxford A. and P. Association wrote asking for a donation towards its special prize fund. It was decided to reply that the Board was unable to grant the request. The secretary of the Amalgamated. Engineers' and Allied Trades Industrial Union of Workers notified that the award covering Power Boards linesmen expired in October, and the Union was submitting claims for I a new award, and suggests that a confer- j ence be held at Lceston early next year. | The chairman and engineer-secretary were appointed to represent the Board at the meeting. The secretaiy-engmeer (Mr A Buckingham) reported as follows:—The pole gang has poled the Mt. Thomas toad line, the i extension through Springbauk and the Summerhill line as far as the Ashley nver at the Rakahuri crossing. Arrangement* have been made for the gang to drive the necessary piles at this crossing after completing the pole erection of the line. The first wiring gang has completed the reconstruction of the Wilson's 6iding-Jefis Drain road line for 11,000 volts, and thi3 line will be changed over to the higher voltage as soon as arrangements can be made with consumers on the line using shearing motora. An overhaul has been made of two branch lines in the Balcairn district and additional low tension run to a new consumer. Services foi additional power requirements have been run at the new Waimakariri bridge and on the Main North road for pumping purposes in connexion with road construction work. A new consumer at Southbrook has necessitated a small oxtension to pick up an electrio range. The second gang completed the AshleyWhiterock feeder at the end of last week and has now shifted to the Mt. Thomas road line. A shipment of thirty-one transformers arrived during the month, and these have been dried out, and over twenty have been erected in the West Eyreton and Swannanoa districts to date. All the West Eyreton consumers ore now connected up. The SCO k.v.a. 11,000-100 transformer bank ut the freezing work 3 has been overhauled and cleaned and new oil put in. The transformers when examined were found to be in a vevj dirty condition. A start has been made to repair the transformers damaged by the recent electrical storm. The Public Works Department has on request increased* the supply voltage at Southbrook to approximately 10,500 volts. Mr J. C. Hancox, outside superintendent. reported that in October 15 new consumers were connected and 20 extensions" made to oiisting installation. Four ranges and four water-heaters had been connected, also IS motors and five street lamps had been connected at Waikuku Beach. The connected load for the month was 70,135 k.w. A sub-committee waa appointed to draw up a circular for distribution amongst consumers, calling attention to the necessity of reporting- taults immediately they are discovered. The outside salesman reported that IS ranges had been sold during the month; also n>e water-heaters and 1 §h.p. motor. The financial statement as at November 30th, 1929, was as follows: —Loan account, Christ church, £125 lis 24; Kangiora, £125 15s lid, both m credit. The power fund account was £4461 9s 2d in credit. Accounts amounting to £2713 Oe 9d on the loan account and £295 13s 3d on the power fund account were passed for payment. In connstion with the Dominion Combined tlectrac Power Boards' advertising scheme, correspondence was received trom the Elec- i trie Power Boards and Supply Authorities, New Zealand, enclosing report and asking I the Board to 'join up, the boards quota ' being £3O 83 for three years. It was decided to join the Association. In response to a request for compensation for poles erected on Mr James Wright's ] property at Coult« Island the Board decided to acc'pt no liability in the matter. I It was agreed to pay the Rangiora County j Council £5 for the use of the office for ! meetings for the year.

The tender of T. Siiinkland at £133 for building tie Balcairri «üb-at»tion was accepted.