MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20910, 18 July 1933, Page 6

MID-CANTERBURY

♦ ASHBURTON. POWER BOARD. At the monthly meeting of the Ashburton Power Board held yesterday there were present: Messrs E. F. Nicoll (chairman), R. J. Mulligan, H. Morris, J. Lambie, H. J. Crothers, W. G. Gallagher, J. Carr. W. H. Rundle, W. H. Woods, W. Bryant, H. C. Barton, and J. W. M. Dart. The financial statement showed that the revenue for June was £4185 3s 2d; a decrease of £44 6s 5d compared with June, 1932. The revenue for the quarter ended June was £11,419 19s 2d, an increase of £l6O 7s lid compared with the same period last year. The chairman of the Local Government Loans Board (Mr H. D. Park) wrote that the amendment desired in the terms under which the Ashburton Power Board's loan of £6OOO was sanctioned could not be sanctioned. The board was also unable to accede to the request for an extension of the term of the loan to 29 years. The power board's statements that the loans board's requirements would increase the charges on the power board's debt was not the case as tlte annual charges under the loans board's proposal showed a saving of £156 10s apart from the saving of 20 per cent., effected by the recent interest reduction legislation. In submitting its conversion pro- ; posals. the power board could rest J assured thai the loans board would endeavour to ensure that in no way would the charges to the consumers be increased. It was considered that complete conversion of the Ashburton board's debt was the only satisfactory solution of the arranging of numerous renewal Joans in the near future. The chairman reported that MiKemp and he had visited Wellington, and interviewed the Acting-Prime Min-1 ister ithe Rt. Hon. J. G. Coatesi and the chairman and secretary of the j Local Government Loans Board on the j question. It was made clear that it was not the intention of the loans J board to increase the annual charges to the Ashburton board. The finance committee was requested to investigate the question of converting the board's loans. The report of Mr H. G. Kemp (engi-neer-secretary) stated that the principal replacement work had been on the Flemington line, on which 103 replacements were made during the month. In addition a further 20 poleswere replaced on Die following lines:— Barrhill five. Dromore and Wakanui three each, Coldstream, Tinwald, antf Three Springs two each, and Riverside. Cairnbrae, and Laurislon, one each Two extra poles were erected in new services in Ashburton. Tree trimming had been continued and this workshould be completed this week, the whole district having had a good clean up. Areas covered during the last month had been as follows-— A 'f--Forest. Methven. Mount Hutt. Carr's. Cairnbrae. Back Track. Three Surings. Barrhill, Fletcher's, Mitcham, Holmeslea, and Rakaia.

The inspector (Mr W. G. Welsh) rcDorted that the wiring department had been kept busy during the month on installation and general work. Seven new consumers had been connected and 31 extensions had been dealt with. They still had a demand for heating points, and this item formed SO per cent, of the connected load last month. Several new houses were being wired, and as some of these would be installing ranges and water-heaters, the load should be kept up. The report of the running engineer (Mr A. T. Saunders) stated that 543,933.3 units had been supplied by Lake Coleridge during the month, and 2100 by the Diesel plant. The maximum demand was 149(i k.v.a.. on June 23. The maximum demand for the last quarter was 1523 k.v.a., on May 24. The Diesel plant was running for 22 hours. Both pumps for the borough high pressure water supply were in good order. The rearrangement of the pumps was being carried out, j and one would be out of action for a few clays.

Competitions Society's lintries,

Although satisfactory entries have been received for the Ashburton Competitions Society's ninth annual festival, which opens on August 22. it has been decided to extend the closing date till Saturday. The secretary (Mr R. Capstick) stated yesterday that the number of entries received so far compared favourably with that of last year. Rain Continues. Forty-four points of rain were recorded at the domain weather station at 9 a.m. yesterday for the previous 48 hours. This makes 98 points since the rain began on Friday. Yesterday was wet and cold. llugby Union.

The management committee of the Rugby Union met last evening, Mr J. C. C. McLachlan presiding. The Rakaia Club wrote asking that the matter uf Old Boys "ringing-in" a player on June 24 be reopened. Old Boys, it alleged, played a junior player in its third grade team whose name did not appear on the list. The captain waited on the Rugby Union, admitted both offences, offered a lamentable explanation, and no penalty was imposed upon the offending team. The Rakaia Club's committee was amazed at the lenient and offhand manner in which the enquiry was dropped, and asked if it was not entitled to the point of which it had been deprived by the unconstitutional methods practised by Old Boys. It also denied the unsubstantiated report that the Rakaia third grade team played a senior or any other ineligible player on the date in question. By discussing that rumour and allowing it to be published in the press, a reflection was cast upon the Rakaia Club, and the club viewed with concern the union's action in allowing the report to b" circulated without proof or without making an investigation. Mr J. W. Smith said the management committee had decided the matter, which should not be reopened. The chairman said that the Old Boys' Club had dmitted the breach of the rules and it should lose the game or the union should declare the game no match. Mr A. Thomson said the case was not one of "ringing-in." The boy concerned was a registered member of the Old Boys' Club, who had been regraded and had not taken part in any other match. The protest was out of order as it had not be. 1 lodged within the prescribed time.