CENTRAL POWER SUPPLY

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30368, 18 February 1964, Page 16

CENTRAL POWER SUPPLY

Increased Load In Last Two Months The net loading added for the last two months was 2547.612 kw. and there had been a total of 254 extensions, including 43 new consumers, said a report given to a meeting of the Central Canterbury Electric Power Board. Reporting on the progress of works since the board’s previous meeting, the engin-eer-manager (Mr S. E. Slatter) said that street lighting at Dunsandel had been improved with the installation of nine lanterns. Three New Zealand manufacturers were now producing street lighting equipment and deliveries should now be greatly accelerated. The transformer pads and accessway at the Harewood sub-station had been completed and foundations for the switch-house and the associated ducts could now be set out. At Duvauchelle similar transformer pads had been prepared and a section alongside the store had been levelled, continued the engineer. Diamond Harbour had an improved radio service with the installation of the area base set. North-west conditions recently had induced some erratic performances within the interlinking circuits and the position was being investigated. A lines contractor had indicated that he would be returning to Canterbury shortly and a survey was being made of future work which could with convenience be performed by his team. Lines Staff Busy Several storms had been experienced in December and the lines staff, though depleted in numbers due to the holidays, had worked exceedingly well in difficult conditions to restore power. A lightning storm at Southbridge had resulted in the blowing of 40 h.t. fuses. Heavy winds had blown down some steel poles. Further extensions were being made to the underground reticulation at the Branston block, and these would permit the connexion of about 40 additional houses in Dunstan crescent. This housing block was now about one-third completed, and with all services underground the sub-division had an attractive appearance. Decimal Coinage A report from the secre-tary-manager and the assistant secretary dealt comprehensively with the board’s accounting machinery position in view of the introduction of the decimal coinage system in 1967. The report, which was adopted, involved the setting aside of a special reserve of £l5OO at the end of this financial year and £lOOO at March 31, 1966, for the purchase of essential new equipment Increased Consumption Another report said that to date unit consumption was up 13.54 per cent on that of the corresponding period of the previous year, the figure for the Peninsula area alone being 10.99 per cent. Tender Accepted It was reported by the chairman (Mr R. J. Roberts) that a committee set up tor the purpose had accepted a tender of £7389 for building a showrom and serviceman’s flat at Akaroa. Another tender for £2875 19 s 9d had been accepted for erection of a house at Hornby, plus £l7O 15s for a garage.