OAMARU ITEMS

Evening Star, Issue 22688, 30 June 1937, Page 14

OAMARU ITEMS

MAGISTRATE’S COURT The weekly sitting of the Oamani Magistrate’s Court was commenced yesterday afternoon before Mr H. IV. Bundle, S.M. Walter Jacobs pleaded guilty to a charge of driving a motor cycle along Thames street in a manner dangerous to the public, and was fined 20s and costs (3s). Inspector Laughton, who said there was very little traffic on the road at the time, but the practice was a dangerous one. Eric Victor Latta was charged with passing another car proceeding in the same direction on the crest of a hill.— Inspector Laughton said defendant passed him on the crest of a hill at Hampden. The practice was a dangerous one.—Fined 20s and costs (10s). William Gilchrist, of Ardgowan, was charged with operating a motor vehicle without a warrant of fitness being carried on the vehicle, and with knowingly using a motor vehicle for which no license had been issued. Inspector Laughton prosecuted, and Mr R. D. H. Swindley appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty to both charges. The facts showed that the vehicle in question had been found in Coquet street on. the morning of May 28. The number plates showing were those for the registration period of 1933-34, while underneath were the plates for the period of 1935-36. The vehicle was not registered. Inspector Laughton said defendant had admitted using the truck on two occasions. Defendant was fined £1 18s, with costs (12s) on the first charge, and costs only (3s) on the second charge. WAITAKI POWER BOARD The monthly meeting of the Waitaki Power Board was held yesterday, there being present the chairman (Mr J. M‘Diarmid), Messrs A. B. Lang, D. J. Ross, J. Newlands, K. Familton, J. R. M'Cullooh, A. MTnnes, J. M. Fortester. Accounts totalling £3,407 18s Id (power fund account £2,055 7s 3d, loan account £1,352 10s lOd) were passed for payment. Nine applications for financial assistance were granted. Financial Statement. —Power fund credit £1,171 15s, electricity loan account debit £1,048 10s 2d. Comparative cash receipts for May, the figures for the same month as last year being shown in parentheses:—Current £2,166 5s 9d (£1,891 Is Id), sundry debtors for fittings and house wiring £124 18s lOd (£566 8s 7d), cash sales £47 19s 3d (£63 16s 2d): total £3,457 2s lOd j£2,521 5s lOd). At May 31 the total sum of advances under new range terms amounted to £13,806 14s Bd, and by payments this had been reduced to £6,996 0s Id. The recorded sales of electricity for the two months ended May 37, 1937, amounted to £5,3)2 2s 6d, as against £4,664 3s lOd last year. The Local Government Loans Board advised that arrangements would be made to vary the authority to borrow tho balance of the loan;—Received. On the motion of Mr J. M. Forrester, seconded by Mr Lang, it was agreed that the discount off county and Hampden, street lighting be 20 per cent, instead of 10 per cent, for the ensuing year. It was decided to call tenders for the building of a garage, with extras as recommended. —Engineer’s Report.— Reporting on the work for the month the’ engineer (Mr J. Dalmer) stated that they were very busy in. all departments; in fact, work seemed to be coming forward in even greater volume in some directions, and it had been impossible to attend to a number of inquiries and make the careful survey and investigation necessary. A glaring case of dangerous and illegal connection of a radio aerial was recently found, apparently having been erected by some irresponsible person, and the board was endeavouring to trace the offender and deal with the case adequately. The load added for the month was 17Skws. As an indication of the rapidly-growing load it might be stated that several successive records had been established this month. A record demand was experienced round about 5 o’clock one evening, due to the power and lighting loads overlapping, together with a ceftain amount of heating. Almost immediately, however, a higher peak was experienced, and on Thursday, June 24, a very large and unexpected demand occurred, reaching the high figure of 2,038kra. Recently extensions had been completed in the Hampden, Herbert, Totnra, Maheno, Inchohne, Enfield, Airedale, Ardgowan, and Richmond districts, with minor work in many other parts. During May 960,400 units were received from the Government supply, and 17,638 units were generated’by the water and oil engine, making a total of 978,038 units. The Government lines inspector recerftly examined the new work, and expressed himself very well pleased with the standard maintained. POWER BOARD ESTIMATES The following estimates were adopted for the ensuing year at the meeting of' the Waitaki Power Board yesterday , A surplus of £1,154 was estimated for the year ending March 31, 1938, as against a surplus of £3,544 17s 6d, including trading profits, realised last year. A reconciliation of tho two figures as follows provided an explanation of how tho various factors were likely to trendßevenue; (a) Sales

of electricity—An increase' of over 10 per cent, was anticipated, or £3,857, less special rebate of £2OO (net £3,657), against last year’s increase of £3,982. (b) Profits from trading— Whilst recognising last year’s profits as exceptional, it was believed a good year was ahead of the board, even taking into account increasing labour and material costs. The board confidently expected a profit of £BOO, which was a decrease of £535 6s 2d on last year’s figures, (c) Interest from investments and advances to consumers—With more money available the returns from investments, etc., should increase to £271, or an increase of £l7 3s 6d an last year. Expenditure.—(a) As the board used more power for increased sales, it naturally expected a larger bill for Government bulk supply. The extra amount provided for bulk supply was £2,222. Cost of generation was also expected to rise by £225 4s sd, due to a full year on increased wages bill and rising prices of supplies, (b) Working costs were expected to rise by £1,605 6s 2d. occasioned again by labour costs and rising prices of materials, etc., but even more so by an allocation that would overtake short working last year in maintaining overhaul of lines, (c) Capital charges took a substantial rise of £1,477 4s 2d. It would be remembered that since January the board bad contracted to borrow over £20,000 at approximately 7 per cent, (interest and sinking fund included). As the assets grew, so must a larger amount bo contributed to the depreciation fund. • Summary.—Surplus for last year £3,545, with the addition of revenue from sales of electricity and interest on investments £3,674; less expenditure increases £5,530. Estimated surplus for 1937-38 £1,154. Prospective extensions had been scheduled and requirements fox all parts of the district carefully considered. Heavy additions would be necessary in the town, including a further large transformer. While the sum of £13,170 covered new lines, etc., it was hardli' likely that all those extensions would eventuate, and the sura of £IO.OOO to £12,000 should, it was thought, suffice. Against those prospective commitments there were loan balances in hand of £9.366, so that frosty loan authority would he required towards tho end of the year, depending upon the .situation at that time. No further prevision had been made to cover the financing of range installations out of loan monies, as it was anticipated that repayments would balance further outgoings. The estimated revenue wa= £40.261, and the expenditure £39,907. The estimated surplus would be £1,154..