GREY POWER BOARD.

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1926, Page 6

GREY POWER BOARD.

The usual meeting of the above Board was held in the Board’s Office last evening. Present: Messrs W. J. Greenslade (chairman), J. Mulcare, \V. Clayton, H. Duggan, A. Robinson C. Uddstrom, D. Tennent, W. Leitch and J. O'Brien. Bunney and Co. wrote offering to advance a loan.—Resolved on the chairman’s motion that the matter be

held over. Westland Power Board wrote that it was still communicating with the Mines Department re Kumara water race. Messrs Templar and Toogood, and Vickerman and Laroombe, wrote offering to report on Crooked River and Ahaura River.—Resolved on Mr. Leitch’s opinion to hold over the offers till a later meeting and to reply accordingly. Mr. J. Wilson wrote re Lake Hochstotter power scheme.—Resolved to reply that the Board is not at present prepared to undertake a hydro scheme. Messrs Toogood wrote offering to raise a loan of £50,000. It was resolved to reply that the loan has already been raised. Dense Bros wrote claiming £3O in payment for a cow and a pedigree bu]] the former having been lost, and the latter having been killed after straying on to the road.—lt was resolved that a small commjittce be set up to investigate the claim. Mrs A. Smeaton worte claiming

compensation for gravel taken from her propertv at Dobson.- —The matter was referred to the Engineer and a member of the Board for a report. Mr. H. Weenink wrote asking to be linked up wjth the service. The “Argus” Coy. requested a reduction in their lighting rates, the matter being referred to the Engineer to interview th© Company. The School Jub’Tec Committee wroie asking th© Board to participate in its procession on October 20th, suggesting that as England and Scotland had already been provided for, the Board provide a representation of Ireland. It was resolved to comply with the request, leaving the form of the Board’s participation to the Engineer’s charge. Mr. Duggan asked why it was that certain houses in Runanga had not been completed when the Boards workmen left the place. Mr. Mulcare asked why the workmen had been dismissed summarily instead of giving the men due notice. It was explained that the Board had done its best under the circumstances. ENGINEER S REPORT. Progress of Work. —During the month the major portion of the reticulation work in Runanga Borough and Cobden township was completed, and supply commenced on th© 27th. September, In both those areas the majority of the street lamps were placed in commission on the same date. The low tension reticulation of Dobson township has also progressed and a number of consumers in this district have been connected to tin supply. The erection of the Waterworks pumping station is now well in hand and arrangements have been made to give a. supply to the pumping motor now bding installed as earb as possible. As per the Board’s in structions, a number of Kawak; poles have been ordered, a portion of which have been delivered and use<in the Dobson township. Immediately th© remainder of the poles and cross arm timber has been delivered the work of reticulating th© Taylor ville district and completing the Runanga and Cobden townships will bo put in hand. Material etc.—At the last meeting

of the Board it was decided that the acceptance of tenders for material etc which had been advertised be deferred until this meeting,. The material for which tenders have been received consists of:—Triple branded cable and bar© copper wire Marshal land Baxter) £1,395 (held over); Extra high tension underground cable (Tolley nnd Son) £499 13s; Low tension insulators (Lawrence and Hansen) £256 5s (accepted) ; JuH.T. Insula tors (A. D. Riley and Co.) £337 10s (accepted). The above firms who are the lowest tenderers, with the exception of Messrs Tolley and Son for E.H.T. Underground Cable have been communicated with asking if the foregoing prices still hold good, and their replies are to be submitted in time for this meeting. With regard to the E.H.T. Underground Cable the offer of Messrs Tolley and Son ncludes for outdoor type terminal boxes of a suitable design for the requirements of this district, being provided with extra large petticoat insulators. The lowest tender which amounts to £455 17s 7d does not include full particulars of the type of box offered. Leyland Truck.—This truck has had an exceptionally large amount of work to carry out during the past year. The front tyres require renewing and the truck itself needs a genera] overhaul. Authority is requested to invite prices and have this work carried out.—Mr. Leitch moved that prices be obtained and the work be carried out.—Seconded by Mr. Tennent and carried.

Storekeeper.—The Storekeeper tendered his resignation which took effect on the 2nd. of the month, since when temporary arrangements have been mad© with regard to th© work in store.—Resolved that the filling of the position be held over in the meantime.

Consumers. —Th© following shows the position with regard to the number of consumers and connected load to date:—Total number of applications 735; Number consumers connect sd 500; connected load, motors 900

h.p. lighting 250 k.w.; heating and iron 200 k.w 11,000 Volt Transmission Line. — 'Hie present layout of the transmission line between Brunner and Blackball is for a single circuit. The size of the conductors for this line as originally proposed have been increased from .011 sq. in. io .02 sq. in. With the prospective load in view j t may be policy at the present time to increase the. size of the conductors- to .01 sq. in. This would entail an increase of approximately £6OO additional expenditure over that proposed. Should the Board be called upon, however, to supply a large consumer in Moonlight it will bo necessary to replace the proposed conductors with others of larger capacity. This would cause inconvenience to consumers already boing- supplied and entail loss in revenue during the time the line would not be in operation. Further, if may be necessary to carry out this work on Sundays to suit the. convenience of consumers already receiving supply, thus adding considerably to the expense which would exceed the difference in the extra cost of the conductors- at the present time.—The report as a whole was adopted WORKS OOMMITEE’S REPORT. Your committee inspected the high tension line to Ngahere and Blackball and find that on this line there arc many difficulties to overcome. To observe the Pos t and Telegraph and Railway Regulations the l’ n e "'ill have to be taken in several places up high on the bluffs, and st will require careful investigation to select the best route. We recommend that a survey be made of the line to the Blackball Bridge with the object of selecting the best and cheapest position, particularly from Sprang Creek towards Blackball and that this work be pu’ in hand at once. We also recommend that specifications bo drawn up for three or more sections on the Blackball high-tension line, and that separate tenders be called for the completion of the line and the erection of the poles, and also for a complete high tension line to the Blackball bridge. We recommend that the low tension reticulation of Blackball’ be proceeded with so as to be completed by the time the high tension is through. That as many gangs of men as possible be employed to complete reticulation of Cobden. Brunner Taylorville, Wallsend, Dobson, Runanga, DunoHie, Smith Beach and Pa roa We recommend that tenders be called for 500 Kawaka poles in lots of 50 or more. The report was adopted Mr. Leitch moved that the Mor s Committee meeting on '^' ue !? a '1 that it go over the line io Blackbab when a rough survey is made of it Seconded by Mr. Robinson and carried.— -Adopted by th e Board.