OTAGO POWER BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 22191, 20 November 1935, Page 15

OTAGO POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Electric Power Board, held yesterday at Milton, was attended by Messrs D. Boyd (in the chair), W. Lee, L. Arkle, A. E. Russell, R. H. Michelle, J. K. Simpson, and G. Moore. THE LATE MR C. R. SMITH. The Chairman referred to the death of Mr C. R. Smith, who had represented the Palmerston Borough and AVaihenio, County on the board during the past three years. He said it was with deep regret that board membeis had become aware of the critical illness resulting in the death of M Smith. For several months past Mr Smith’s health had been causing his friends grave / concern, yet he haci steadfastly refused to give up his work on the board. It was characteristic of Mr Smith that whatever he took m hand he did his best to carry through to a successful issue. During his three years on the board he made a close studv of the accountancy side of its affairs, and was of considerable help to the board during the period of its loan conversion. It could truly be said of Mr Smith that he gave of his best in the board’s interest. The Chairman moved that the secretary be instructed to draft a letter to Mrs Smith and family, conveying appreciation of Mr Smith’s services as a member of the board, and also sincere .sympathy with them in their bereavement. FINANCE. The finance report stated that receipts for the month of October had amounted to £3,866 18s 6d, including £3.675 10s 9d from sales of electricity. Expenditure had totalled £4,507 18s 3d. The report was adopted, and accounts amounting to £769 17s 4d were passed for payment. CORRESPONDENCE. The City Electrical Engineer (Mr H. H. Henderson) advised that 711,520 units had been supplied to the board during the month of November. —Received. The Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association of New Zealand advised that Mr E. W. Swain had been appointed part-time secretary to the association. The board was invited to refer all matters of interest to him.—Received. The Audit Department returned the board’s audited statement of accounts for the year ended March 31, 1935. It was decided to place on rocord the board’s appreciation of the manner in which the staff had contributed to the satisfactory condition of the board’s finances. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr R. D. V eitch) reported : In and around Balclutha five house

services have been run and others repaired. One set of high tension fuses /' has been reconditioned. In Kaitangata two low-tension poles have been erected. At Stirling and Inchclutha further poles have been removed to Wilson’s road. Thirteen.high-tension poles have been erected. Displaced low-tension poles have been removed; high-tension wires run throughout, and low-tension wires replaced. Low tension between I. Mosley’s and D. Millar’s has been disconnected and dismantled. Low tension has been constructed from C. Wren’s to Townley’s, sen., and a new service pole erected l at Townley’s. A cut-out nas been erected at the junction of Wilson’s road and “ Kaitangata Straight ” to control several river crossings, Repairs have been done to high-tension wires broken by a tree falling during a ga!le. Assistance has been rendered in Paretai refusing and resagging. Tree cutting at Inchclutha, Wilson’s road, Kaitangata, and Finegand has been performed. One_ trailer body has been built, and defective services repaired. In and around Milton earth rods have been made in preparation for the reconditioning of earths. Wherever possible several earths have been grouped with overhead conductors to reduce maintenance charges. Spans of , high tension to M'Crostie’s have received attention, and also earth guards on this line. Three telephone crossings have been resagged. Two services have . been run and three repaired, and l service and high-tension fuses renewed. Transformer leads at Lovell’s Flat have been repaired. In the testroom 11,000-volt fuses have been made up for Owaka and fuse jaws for Waitati. Forty-two shock absorbers for street lights have been made for Kaitangata and Balclutha, and a pump assembled for cooling purposes at Waitati. The usual servicing, meter readings, testings, and inspections have been carried out. and safety belts have been tested to 5001 b in conformity with the new 1935 regulations. In Lawrence ■'one street light extension has been made, one new service run, and several pulled up. In Waitahuna wires have been lowered ami re-erected to allow of tree felling. In Wetherstones ' and Manuka Creek fuses have been renewed. In Owaka district three new services have been run. Gales caused fuses to blow on several sub-stations, and a falling tree broke several conductors at Glenomaru. In several parts of Paretai low tension has been restrained, two small wires replaced, and longer ■arms fitted. In Paretai two new poles have been erected and three shifted to reduce length of spans. Three transformers between Owaka and Hunt’s road have been changed prior to the conversion of the Hunt’s road line to 11, volts. Several transformers have been overhauled, and breather alterations made, and two poles have been shifted in the township of Owaka. In the northern area three new services have been run. lleinspections have been proceeded with, services, etc., attended to. At Waitati faulty insulators have been changed and light-' ning arresters repaired on the 33.000volt sub-station tower. At Seacliif the main line has been further stayed and the Taumi railway crossing deviation completed. Broken insulators on Brcnsell’s line have received attention, and at Merton and Pufakanui transformer leads have been retied. One anchor has been fitted on the Kihnog. One transformer which hag been blowing fuses on the Kihnog for no apparent reason has been brought in to the testroom. Bare services have been changed at Karitane, Hawkesbury Bush, and an extra pole has been fitted at Karitane, where also two spans of extra low tension have been run. Earth testing ‘ in Waitati is completed for the year, • and a start has been made at Palmerston. The report was adopted. GENERAL. In reference to the board s resolution regarding the £l deposit payable by a consumer on entering a rented house, a motion was carried giving the secretary power to refund the deposit at the end of three months provided he was satisfied that the consumer would be financial.