POWER SUPPLY

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 90, 14 November 1939, Page 4

POWER SUPPLY

. SPRINGS-EIXESMERE BOARD s BUSINESS AT MONTHLY MEETING At the November meeting of the Springs-Ellesmere Electric Power Board held at Leeston yesterday, the members present were Messrs A. E. Langdale Hunt (chairman), H. Neave, H. D. Moran. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs R. T. McMillan and J. H. Williams. Financial The sale of current summary for October showed that the cost of current was £1626/3/4; for the same month last year £1170/13/4. Sale of units realised as follows: Lighting, 129,394 units, £1297/2/-; heating, 257,946 units, £723/6/5; power, 23,955 units, £249/3/9; totals, 402,295 units, £2270/2/2. Accounts amounting to £4146 1 18s 3d were passed for payment. Credit balances were reported as under: Power fund £2226/16/3, No. 5 reticulation loan £3013/0/6. Reports From officers the usual monthly routine reports were received. The Templeton faultman reported that a number of faults had been reported and attended to. A heavy south-west gale caused much damage, to low tension lines, especially where the wire was getting bare, also to the street lights at Sockburn, where longer cross-arms were now being erected to stop wires touching. Reporting on work at Tai Tapu the faultman mentioned that general line maintenance work was carried out, trees' cut clear of lines in several districts, 10 service lines were repaired and 1 renewed. The recent southerly gale caused some damage to the lines due to trees falling across them, and one high tension pole was broken. At present a general replacement of defective poles was being carried out by the lines gang. The inspector reported that there were 126 additions and extensions to the loading, 'nine of which were new consumers. Of the extensions, 25 were carried out by the board's staff. The new substation to supply the Burnham Camp was put into operation early in the month and most of the new installation work at the camp had been inspected and tested. Thirty-eight wiring permits were issued and 142 notified minor faults were rectified. The net additions to the connected load are as follows: —Lighting 127.055 k.w., heating 319.553 k.w., power 27.597 k.w., total 474.205. The assistant-engineer, after detailing the work of the lines gangs reported that the high tension extension from Templeton to Burnham had been finished and livened up. A larger transformer had been installed at the Harewood aerodrome. During the month 27 poles which had been decayed had been replaced with 30 concrete pole's. General The engineer-secretary reported that" a shed had been erected onj the section leased by the board at Islington and the making of concrete poles could be commenced there during the week. The board discussed the purchase of shingle for making poles and agreed to buy equal quantities from the contractors able to make supply, so long as the material was up to the standard required by the board. In reply to a question from Mr Neave, who commented on what appeared to be the unusual sag in the lines at Prebbleton during the nor'west gale on Friday, the engineer-secretary said that they were covered wires, were heavier and had more sag. The gangs were tightening the wires, as the whipping of the lines had caused a number of fuses to be broken. The chairman suggested that longer cross-arms might be used and Mr Vicary said that in many places the board was fitting longer cross-arms in anticipation of carrying heavier capacity wires, and also to prevent the wires touching. The chairman and engineer-sec-retary were deputed to discuss with officers of the Public Works

Department, matters regarding supply of current to Burnham camp. A circular letter was read from the electrical branch of the Public Works Department in which it was , stated that the branch had been asked by the Department of Industries and Commerce to prepare a report on ,a proposal to manufacture meters in New Zealand and to consider what protection would be required. The board was asked to express an opinion on the meter and whether it would be prepared to purchase supplies. In the discussion following, it was stated that there would be no objection to buying the meters provided that they were of equal quality and efficiency to the imported ones. There was one aspect which required consideration in fixing protection, whether it would be possible to continue to import spare parts for the existing meters, otherwise the board would be put to heavy expense in replacing them. The board decided to reply that it had no experience of the meter mentioned and was not in a position to answer the department's letter. Complaints were received concerning poor power supply along Shand's track and vicinity. The engineer-secretary stated that the service in the locality was all low tension. He was instructed to have the necessary work done to improve the supply. Dr. S. R. Cattell wrote suggesting the preparation of special lighting apparatus for the emergency hospital in case of power failure during the emergency. It was agreed to reply that the board would render any assistance possible.