TARANAKI POWER BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 October 1924, Page 2

TARANAKI POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki Electric Power Board met at Eltham on Monday. There were present: Messrs H. G. Carman (chairman), C. E. McGuinness, T. R. Anderson, W. Weir, J. L. Campbell, and V. Ha.rkness. ENGINEERS’- REPORT. The report of the engineers (Messrs H. W. Climie and Son) as follows was adopted : The main tunnel is now driven 840 feet. During the month a junction was made with No. 3 adit, and the face is now two chains past this adit. Numerous boulders have been encountered, and these have delayed progress of the machine. The best advance was Bft. Gin. in two hours, when no boulders were encountered. It is proposed to use pneumatic tools to remove these boulders as soon as the portable air compressor ordered six months ago arrives. The contractors for No. 2 adit have been held up by sandy material, which requires timbering. The contractor for the tunnel in Mr. Downes’ property has made good progress, and has opened up the approach and driven about 75 feet. Tenders returnable today have been invited for six contracts, including the Ratapiko .dam and road deviation. It is proposed, instead of constructing a concrete culvert under this road, to drive a short tunnel, tenders for which have been invited. Men have been constantly employed in metalling and maintaining the Motukawa Road, and it is not yet capable of carrying heavy traffic unless in fine weather. In addition about 500 cubic yards of shell rock and gravel from the Motukawa. stream have been got out in readiness for metalling the pipeline road as soon as the weather permits. A number of property owners have delayed cutting back overhanging trees that will endanger the electric lines. The construction of the lines has been thei'eby held up. It is recommended that in such cases the hoard, do the work without further notice and collect the cost from the property owners, as has been done in other power districts. It was reported verbally that 700 trees had been planted during the month. Discussing the report, Mr. Climie informed Mr. Harkness that approximately 350 feet of the tunnel had been driven during- the month, the present labour charge being about £1 per foot. Where large boulders were encountered the particular lengths would cost double that figure. Answering the chairman, Mr. Climie stated that boulders were showing in the face of No. 3 adit, though not in the. other faces* NON-CONSUMERS’ RATE. Referring to statements alleged to have been made by canvassers, intimating that persons who did not take electric supply from the, board would still he liable for a non-consumers’ rate, the chairman stated that he had been requested by the waring superintendent to deny on behalf .of his staff any responsibility for such statements. The chairman Turtlier stated that no authority for such had been given by the board, nor had the board given consideration to the question of levying a non-consumers’ rate. The board had made iio provision for such a rate, and even if it were ultimately adopted it certainly would not he struck for some considerable time. Action in the matter, of course, would depend upon the attitude adopted by the hoard in power when it might be deemed necessary to consider the question. He agreed with Mr. Harkness that power to levy a nonconsumers’ rate was vested in the board. Tint lie pointed out that it was quite possible that the authority Wjpuld he repealed, and in the meantime the board should emphatically deny any suggestion concerning it. GENERAL. The engineer verbally reported that he had been unable to secure suitable storage premises at Stratford, but that a building which would he suitable if minor alterations were made was available at Midhirst. —The opinion u r as expressed that to afford the required convenience accommodation should, if possible, be procured at Stratford, and Messrs Weir, Anderson, and the engineer were appointed to instigate further inquiries. Replying to Mr. Harkness, the engineer attributed a lessening of power experienced recently during certain hours to a minor defect in the governor controlling the plant The fault was being remedied. He thought the practice- of cutting off the power on Sundays between the hours'of 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., to afford the opportunity for any necessary adjustments to the plant, should be adopted. This should not affect the dairy companies, as he understood they did not require power between those hours. Notification was received from the N.S.W. Forestry Commission that the issue of shipping certificates under the timber regulations would be discontinued as from October 1, and certificates of timber inspectors would he issued in place of the present provisional certificates. The certificate would be invalid after four months from date of issue, and would become null and void if the timber were not removed from the place of inspection or consigned within that period.—The notification was referred to the engineer. Subsequent .business was taken ini committee.