GREY POWER BOARD

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1941, Page 7

GREY POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. At the ordinary meeting of the Grey Electric Power Board on Wednesday evening, there were present Messrs J. B. Kent (Chairman), J. Smeaton, P. Blanchfield, jnr., J. Unwin, A. H. McKane, W. Clayton. W. E. Pring, W. Fisher the Engineer (Mr Sinclair Trotter), and the Secretary (Mr W. S. McClymont). Greymouth Boroimh Council wrote accepting the Board’s charges for reduced street lighting. Ikamatua Women’s Physical Welfare Class wrote for a concession on bill for current used by them each Monday evening. Mr Smeaton moved that the letter be referred to the Engineer for investigation. The chairman said that if the annlication were granted the Board would receive similar requests from all similar bodies. Mr Smeaton said that power Was given to Home Guard Units. The chairman said that the Home Guard was only a war measure: whereas a physical welfare class would continue for some time. Mr Pring moved an amendment that the letter be received. The Engineer said that the account was only a small one and it was not worth the class applying for a concession. The amendment was carried. Blackball Bowling Club wrote asknig for supply of electricity for light and power as soon as possible. —The letter was referred to the Engineer. The Secretary’s report as follows, was adopted:—The balance of the consolidated bank account was £5,138 19s sd; accounts to be passed for payment amounted to £2,541 16s 10d; accounts paid since last meeting were £1,473 10s lid; and accounts amounting to £1,068 5s lid are to be paid, leaving a balance of £4,070 13s 6d. June, 1941 meter readings produced a revenue of £7,997 19s Bd, as against a figure for the same period last year of £8,055 Is sd. The figure outstanding on account of financially assisted range sales is £1,847 8s sd. The total sum advanced to date is £5,837 6s 4d. Excepting the one dredge reported on at the June meeting as not now operating, all large power accounts are up to date but one, which owes for two months’ current. During the period, the State Mines Department purchased the Blackball Coal Company’s mine. So far the 'Board has received no official intimation of the transfer. On July 10, 1 attended a meeting of the secretaries of South Island Power Boards, in South Canterbury. Commencing at 10.30 a.m., it lasted till 7.30 p.m. Eleven men attended and many interesting subjects were discussed, some dealing, naturally enough, with wartime problems. Members win doubtless have read that the Board was successful in its case against a consumer stealing current. This should strengthen, the Board’s hand in many other similar cases which have been reported. The Engineer’s report, as follows, was adopted:—-Reticulation: The outside staff have been engaged on general maintenance, connecting new services. One new transformer has been erected near Sawyer’s Creek on Marsden Road. The annual tests and re-conditioning to be carried out on earths, according Regulations have been carried out. Modification to the street lighting system to give more light without increasing the visibility from the sea, have been undertaken with the permission of the authorities, and provision is being made, by introducing some modifications to the protective relavs to enable the whole town street light sys-

tem to be controlled from one point in an emergency. The connected load fop the period is as follows: —Light 190.265 k.w. (previous) 3.270 k.w. (nresent) 1963.535 kw. .(total); heat and iron, 4624.190 k.w. (previous' 10.450 k.w. (present) 4634.'640 k.w. (total); water heating, 580,606 k.w.. (previous) 2.0 k.w. Present) 582.060 kw (total); power, 12,256/0 h.p. (.previous) 3.25 h.p. (present), 12 259.25 h.p. (total); cooking 4673.20 kw (previous), 14.00 k.w. (present). 4687.20 k.w. (total). U’ 1 '- load at the iast meeting was 24,228, and the load for the "’esent month is 33, making a total of 24,261 k.w. The maximum load recorded for the quarter ended June 30 1941, was 4316 kva and the units purchased 5,308,000, an increase in demand over the corresponding period of last year of 295 kva, with a decrease in kwh purchased of 270,000 on the recommendation of the Finance Committee accounts amounting to £2,541 16s lOd were passed for payment.