OTAGO POWER BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 22367, 17 June 1936, Page 6

OTAGO POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Otago Electric Power Board was held at Milton yesterday, when there were present Messrs R. 11. Michelle (chairman), W. Lee, \V. C. Arkle, A. JO. Russell, J. K. Simpson, G. Moore, and D. Boyd. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £741 9s were passed for payment. The Secretary reported that the cash receipts for sales of electricity from the first two months of the year, compared with those of former years, were as f0110w1933-34. 10w1933-34. £6,385; 1934-35, £7,341; 1935-36, £7,338: 1936-37, £8,242, CORRESPONDENCE. The Clerk of the Waihemo County Council wrote expressing appreciation of the board’s decision not to levy a land rate this year.—A similar letter was forwarded b,y the clerk of tjie Milton Borough Council.—Both letters were received. GENERAL. On the motion of Mr Boyd, the secretary was instructed to investigate the possibility of making a special rate for electric heaters when they were used outside of the peak-loading periods. The board also decided to procure for screening in the larger centres for publicity purposes a film dealing with the production of electricity and with the variety of its uses. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr R. D. Veitch) submitted the following report on the work of the monthNorthern Area.—On May 2,5, and 19 short duration interruptions were experienced, due to increase of load. Relays at Port Chalmers have been readjusted to suit the new loading, and since* no interruptions have occurred. The 33 kv was examined after the heavy winds at the beginning of the month, and a broken telephone line replaced. Some poles have also been rcrammed, and a quantity of scrub cleared. Transformer fuses have been renewed at Evansdale, Waitati, and Merton, and an 11 kv polo at Warrington anchored back at a tap off. A lightning arrester has been erected on the Seacliff-Merton 6.6 kv, and provision has been made to prevent water entering the arresters through the strandjng of the wires. A burnt crossarm and two faulty fuses have been replaced at Shag Point. Low tension at Puketeraki and Bushey has been resagged and part of the Shag Point line has been dismantled. An unused extension at Mihiwaka has also been dismantled. At Palmerston, Waikouaiti, and Puketeraki also, maintenance work on low tension has been performed, and poles have been placed in position for alteration at Karitnne. Bare service wires have been changed to covered at Goodwood, Bushey, and Waikouaiti, and at Doctors’ Point loose insulators have been tightened and shot insulators removed. Five new services have been erected, and assistance has been rendered in Macraes in connection with the Mining Company’s extrusion. Street light brackets have been renewed at Waikouaiti and Palmerston, and 24 new lamps have been installed on Palmerston street lighting for testing purposes; 6.6 kv fuses have been made as time permitted at Waitati. In the test,room, meter testing has been proceeded with, and the mam mctering nnits have been removed from the switch cubicles on the main sub. and wired up in the test room. lieinspections have been proceeded with. Southern Area.—ln the test room 22 house service meters have been tested and standard meters checked up. Street lighting time switches have received attention and tools have been made to facilitate transformer repairs. Telephone links arc being made for our main linos. Further voltage tests have been taken with recording instruments to detect any' undue voltage variations. The Tisnal servicing and testing has been proceeded with. On the main line to Waipori four poles have been renewed on Sundays, when power was supplied from Kaitangata. In Milbnrn, two sets of fuses have been installed and adjustments have been made to the lines at Moneymore. An extra wire has been dismantled between O’Connor’s and Lowry’s, and disused insulators and fuses dismantled. Extensions to Milton street lighting have been made. Telephone circuits have been overhauled and two poles have been renewed in Milton Borough. Five new services have been erected, and several others have been rerun in insulated wire. In Tokoiti, several poles have been blocked, ties have been renewed, and new braces fitted to cross-arms. In Lawrence district one interruption to supply occurred on May 1, the Beaumont line being off from 7.30 to 9.40 a.m., due to straw being blown across the line. Meter reading has occupied most of the month, but m addition, two new services have been run in Bowler’s Creek and two in Waitahnna. In Beaumont a three-phase service has been repaired. Tn Stirling and surrounding districts, a large amount of time has again been spent on the Inch Clutha-Pnretai line. Fuse links have been fitted where this line taps off the Balclntha-Finegand eir cuit, and new wire has been erected between hero and Jensen’s. Longer arms have also been fitted and one (iolo has been shifted to straighten the line. The line from Brown’s to Betting’s and from Jensen’s to Marshall’s has been temporarily rosagged pending,arrival of additional wire on indent. An air break switch has been installed on the Paretai River crossing near Betting’s to enable power to be more quickly restored on Inch Clutha should a fault develop in Paretai or Kaka Point! At Marshall's a sub-platform and two poles have been erected in preparation for further weak on the line. In the 6.0 kv. from line gaud road to the river crossing the high tension line has been resagged and a new stay wire fitted. The Kakapuaka high tension has been resagged from the Main South road to the termination, and the telegraph crossings on the Main South road retied. Three tram formers on Inch Clutha have been painted, and new high tension bushings fitted to a fourth. The district’s earth testing is completed, leaving only Lawrence and Milton districts to complete for the year. Poles have been carted from the old flax mill, Kaitangata, to Stirling. Low tension linos in the district have received the following attention :—At Kakapuaka, resagged and retied. One three-phase and five singlephase services have been run and one three-phase- service has been dismantled. At Benhar 120 yards of low tension phase’wire has been renewed. Material from Inch Clutha and other jobs has been reconditioned as far as possible and returned to stock. Trees at Kaitangata and llosebank have received attention and experimental lighting has been installed in Balolutha. Servicing has been proceeded with as usual. Ownka.—Meter reading occupied the first part of the month and earth testing the bulk of the balance, but attention has also been given to transformer breathers, 12 of which have been re-

placed with new breathers of improved pattern. Units Purchased. —During the month 324,000 units were purchased in the northern area, and 437,440 units in the souhern area, a total of 701,440, being an increase of 07,080 units over last month. Tho report was adopted.