GREY POWER BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 July 1926, Page 3

GREY POWER BOARD

LAST EVENING'S MEETING

The Grey Power Board met last evening; present: Messrs J. W. Greenslade (Chairman), D. Tennent, W. Leitch, W. Clayton, J. Mulcare, H. Duggan, C. Uddstrom, and J. O’Brien. The secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering and Allied Trades Union wrote asking the Board to confer with representatives of the linesmen and their assistants, regarding conditions of employment. The matter was held over, pending a, report. The Engineer reported as follows: — “Progress of Work—The 11,000 volt transmission line between Grey and Runanga is now nearing completion, and arrangements have been made with the Railway Department to cross under the railway tracks before crossing the bridge by means of underground cable. The method of crossing Cobden bridge with 11,000 volt'wires has not yet been definitely decided upon by the Public Works Department. This matter is being taken up by the District Engineer during his visit to Wellington this week. The sub-station at Runanga is now completed and a start is to be made immediately on the low tension reticulation work and the connecting up of consumers. A notification was received from the Inspectoi' of Nuisances in connection with the sub-station site in Chapel Street, and a fence has since been

erected to comply with requirements. The street lighting of the Greymouth Borough district is now well in hand and an endeavour is being made to .have this work completed by the second week in August, so that the Borough Council may make arrangements for an opening ceremony. A start has been made on the erection of

a corrugated iron sub-station on the site provided by the Borough Council near the waterworks pumping station, so that no delay will occur in giving supply to the electric motordriven pump on completion of its installation. “Consumers. —An intimation has been received from the Wallsend Mine that they will be in a position to take a supply of power during the forthcoming week, and arrangements are now in hand to connect the extension of the 11,000 volt line on Sunday next. In the Blackball district, one of the local contractors have already received 100 signed applications for household installations in Blackball and propose starting work immediately. It is possible a large amount of this work will be finished before the transmission line will be completed and it is suggested that arrangements might be made with the Blackball Coal Co. to supply energy for the use of these consumers until the Board’s supply is available. A request has been received from a number of consumers situated in Rutherglen with regard to supply for light and power purposes. There are 24 lighting consumers between Paroa and Rutherglen, also one power consumer whose load will be in the neighbourhood of 50 h.p. At the present time no provision has been made for the low tension reticulation of this district, and these consumers, together with a number of others situated along the routes of existing transmission lines', will have to be considered and provision made for supply to be given. “Line Material —In connection with reticulation material recently advertised for in accordance with the Board’s instructions, tenders for which close to-day, the Board’s instructions are requested as to the method to be adopted in dealing with the various tenders. The tenders cover triple braided aerial cable and bare copper wire, low tension insulators, and high tension underground cable. The high tension underground cable is intended for use in crossing the Blackball bridge. With regard to the 11,000 volt insulators for use in connection with the 11,000 volt transmission lines, the recent contractors were communicated with and they have made a very satisfactory offer for the Board’s consideration. While in Wellington, the Engineer interviewed the contractors who recently supplied the high tension underground cable regarding the trouble being experienced with the outdoor type terminal boxes. This firm has taken the matter up with their principals and arrangements are being made to replace the. present type of terminal boxes with one more suitable for the climatic conditions of this district. “Trailer —A communication has been received from the Greymouth Motors Ltd. in connection with the W and K trailer recently supplied by them. Authority was given by the Board to purchase this trailer on the Ist Oct. 1925 and upon its arrival it was found that it did not comply in all details with the information supplied by the vendor, and payment was consequently withheld. The Greymouth Motors communicated with their principals, the result being the recent communication which is placed before the Board for consideration.” The question of supplying Rutherglen was held over for further consideration as to ways and means. It was decided that the heavier type of cable be secured for the Blackball bridge; also that tfie best insulators be obtained. Ou the motion of Mr. Leitch, seconded by Mr. Uddstrom, the offer regarding the trailer was accepted, viz., to supply it at cost price, the Board to make the necessary alterations itself. The report was adopted. The Works Committee reported: — “The reticulation work advised by this Committee has not been carried on as expeditiously as we consider necessary. This is due to the difficulty of obtaining suitable men. Six men were sent for to Christchurch and

only one accepted employment. Three of our present overseers are off work through accidents, and this has further hampered the reticulation work. We recommend: That as many men as can be procured be employed to finish the reticulation work of Blaketown, Runanga, Brunner and Cobden at the earliest possible date; that two practical bushmen be employed to clear the high tension line around the Cobden bluff of overhanging scrub; that the high-tension line from Grey-

mouth to Cobden be erected as soon as the plans for same are agreed to by the Public Works Department; that 100 low-tension reticulation poles of 2G feet in length, of a suitable diameter, either of kawaka or silverpine

be procured locally if the prices compare favourably with imported hardwood.” Cr. O’Brien, for the Committee, explained that the Board was short of low tension poles, and had not sufficient to finish Runanga. The report was adopted. The Chairman and Engineer submitted lengthy reports regarding the

work of the Power Board’s Conference which they attended at Wellington. Mr. Tennent moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman, Engineer, and Secretary for their work at the Conference, and also that their expenses be paid. It was further decided to forward letters of appreciation to Messrs Nash (Chairman of the Conference) and Russell, for their assistance.