OTAGO POWER BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 19408, 17 November 1926, Page 13

OTAGO POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Electric Power Board, held yesterday afternoon, was attended by Messrs P. Briscoe (in the chair), D. Boyd, F. Carson, W. B. Calloway, James Guest, and H. M. Driver. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer-Manager, in the monthly report on progress of works to date, stated:— Main Transmission.—The erection of tho 33,000 to 11,000-volt sub-station that was dismantled at Clarendon and shifted to Waitati, together with suitable housing, is now finished. The transformers have been cleaned and dried out, and everything practically in readiness for supply at 33,000 volts at Waitati. It is believed that the City Corporation will bo in a position to supply the board at 33,000 volts for this line in approximately a fortnight’s time. A 33,000-volt switch on the main Waipori-Milton line has been erected at Berwick. This line is in good working order. Distribution.—Tho number of poles erected in the southern area to date is approximately 1,850, with 250 miles of wire. L.T. lines have been erected in Inchclutha ? to Mr Telford at Otanamona, and in Barnego, and H.T. and L.T. lines and services completed on the Lovell’s Flat-Kaitangata road. The board’s contractor has completed the 6,000-volt line along the Kaitangata canal. Inspection showed that tho H.T. at Benhar and the L.T. at Mr Bichan’s flax-mill at Otanamoma were too lightly fused. This has been rectified, and satisfactory running since obtained, The street lighting in Balclutha and Kaitangata has been repaired and completed. The gang working in this area has been reduced by six men. In the Milton district 1,092 poles and 115 miles of wire have been run, and the men are at present working in the Milburn district. A shutdown occurred at the Milburn works for four and a-half hours on October 28, owing to a faulty insulator on one of the transformers. This has been replaced. Since last report alterations nave been made at, Berwick to supply a 15 h.p. motor for pumping at MTntosh’s. The board’s contractor has, finished the 6,000-volt line from Clarendon to Waihola. together with approximately two miles of L.T. There are now eight men employed in this gang. In the Palmerston district 781 poles have been erected to date, and tho men have been and are employed in connecting up consumers from the Shag Point line at Waikouaiti and Karitano. Seven men have been employed in and around Palmerston and Waikouaiti, and four men, including the patrolman, who patrols the 11,000-volt line for two nays a week at Karitano. In the Sea-cliff-Waitati district approximately 430 poles and thirty-four miles of wire have been run. Connections have been made at Omimi and Seacliff and at War rington. This gang of eight men has now been split up, tour men being employed at Purakanui and four at bjyansdale. The board’s contractor completed the 6,000-volt line from our main lino to Purakanui some weeks back, and supply will be given to Purakanui residents when the necessary transformers, which are now in store, have been dried out satisfactorily. Several minor stoppages have occurred during the month, and in each case the fault located and repairs effected. The number of consumers connected to date art> •-—Balclutha district, 626; Milton listrict (new consumers). 38; Milton rea (exclusive of horougn), 177; Sea-■liff-Waitati district, 205; Waikouaiti istrict, 139: Palmerston district, 276; > total of 1,461. Balclutha Borough Pumping Plant.— specifications are now being prepared iTior to obtaining prices from different manufacturers for the supply and erection of pumping plant for the Balclutha Borough Council. It is expected that these prices will be available, within the next two or three weeks.

Palmerston Borough Pumping Plant. —An investigation is at present being made of a proposition for the electrical pumping of water for the Palmerston Borough Council, and at the present stage only quotations can be offeree!. This is mainly due to the absence of any plans showing the respective levels or the proposed intake and the existing reservoir. These details were asked for some considerable time ago, but are not yet to hand. As a consequence it will be necessary for this board to undertake a rough survey for ■ the purpose of gathering sufficient information to enable a definite proposition _to bo placed before the council. It is understood that the same arrangement applies to this council as already agreed to by tho Balclutha Borough Council. The Kailway Department has applied for the use of the board’s power line poles for the purpose of carrying control wires between their tank at Palmerston station and the pumping plant on the Shag River. Some charge should he made to the department as rental for tho use of our equipment for this purpose. Supply to Lawrence District.—Tho Lawrence petition has been returned to this office at the completion of the statutory period for inspection, and will be forwarded to Wellington with the necessary plans, on completion of the latter, and within the current week. The canvasser and inspector from the Balclutha district is now engaged on making a thorough canvass of the district in order to ascertain the probable number of consumers to bo connected and the location of premises to bo wired. This should be available within a short period, and in the meantime the necessary procedure in connection with the placing of the loan proposals before the ratepayers is now being attended to. The number of signatories to the petition is very encouraging. Industrial Power.—The demand for power for industrial purposes continues, and is gratifying. There are now connected to the mains a large flour mill, coal mine, flax mill, and two largo brick and tile works, together with several smaller installations scattered throughout the district. There are also several inquiries reaching this office for power supply to other concerns. Transport.-—ln general, tho transport equipment belonging to the board is running satisfactorily, but, in view of the present state of tho conveyances, and pending extensions to the district, a review of the whole position will require the board’s attention at an early date.

GENERAL. Mr Galloway asked what was being done wtih regard to the supplying or Naseby with current, as requested by the Naseby "Welfare League.—Mr A. P. Aldridge (engineer-manager) made the suggestion that the Naseby district bn canvassed.—Mr Galloway then moved that a canvass bo made as soon as possible.—This was seconded by Mr Boyd and carried. A letter was received from the clerk of the Clinton Town Board asking that current be supplied to the board. There were 100 dwelling-houses in the district, exclusive of business premises, the railway yard and premises; and there was also one mile of streets to be lit.—The Engineer-manager said no survey had been made, but the cost of the transmission line would be somewhere about £B,OOO, and the reticulation would bo £4,000. —Mr Galloway moved and Mr Driver seconded that a preliminary survey be made on the same conditions as in the Naseby case.—Agreed to. A purchasing committee, consisting of the chairman, Mr Boyd, and Mr Galloway, was appointed. It was decided that Mr J, C. Collins be acting engineer-manager during the absence of Mr Aldridge, who had been granted leave of absence until February 20 next. The Chairman reported with regard go the conference of electric supply