ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 April 1925, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

OPUNAKE SCHEME

BOARD’S MONTHLY MEETING. „ The monthly meeting of the Opunake Electric Power Board was held at Lpunake on Thursday. There were present: Messrs C. A. Trotter (chairman), w; L- F. Chambers,, T. H. H. Sinclair, A. E. Collins, J. S. Tosland, and J. Hickey, junr. Mr. C. M. Stowers Crowley (engineer) and J. N. Stephenson (secretary) were aso in attendance. Mr. J. P. Burton was granted leave of absence. 'THE MONTH’S WORK. The engineer reported as follows: Construction.—Sufficient 25tt. poles were obtained from the Kaponga Town Board to complete the N opera Road line. "Wire for this extension lias npt yet come to hand, although delivery of same was promised some time ago. This section could be livened within a few days of the wire coming to hand. vVarea Extension. —A start has been made with this extension, and tne poles have been laid out as fai as the Puniho Road, and one and a quarter miles from the western end of tne Warea Road. The construction gang is at present working on the a cove section, and good progress is being made with the pole lines. Kahui Road.—A further mile of secondary line lias been completed and livened up. On the Lower Kahui Road it was found, that there is a' very poor demand for power, and I would not recommend any further extension, on thsi road : at present, there being -duly two lighting connections on the next mile of line.. Watino Road. —One .more consumer is required before any further extensions'are advisable on' the top end of this road. , Tipokn Road.—A canvass and survey have been made on this road, and it promises to return well above the required percentage for the capital outlay. The total .length of .this line is a little over two miles, and I would suggest that the material to construct this extensioh be. ordered immediately. Insulators.—A further 650 high tension insulators are to hand, and it is desirable to get these placed on the Thai a and Waitejka Roads as soon os possible. A section of the South Hoad line, from the Skeet to the Nopero Road, requires new ■ insulators. This change will Have to be made before next August. ‘ ! Supply to Kaponga.—Our supply was being used by the Kaponga Town Board as a stand-by until March' 18. The transformer at the Awatuna sub has been removed and .the supply discontinued altogether. , f Consumers.—-The following connections have been made during the month: Milking motors 2, lighting 7, water heaters 4.

\ The report was adopted and the procuring of material for the Tipoka Road was authorised. ihe engineer asked for consideration the appointment of a cadet, permission for which had been given in December, but had not then been made as he considered conditions unsuitable. y > he matter was* referred to the chairf man, secretary, and engineer, with power to take action in accordance with the Result of inquiries to be made. ,

OUTER AREA EXTENSIONS. Messrs Teniplin an‘3 Toogocd, consulting engineers, in a report dealing with the Warea extensions from Piingarehu to the Puniho Road, stated that they would be possible with the present* voltage, and the engineer could proceed with the construction. The consulting engineers were of the opinion tiiat the whole question of extensions and a new loan should be considered, including . work already done in the outer area, so as to bring the whole district in on an equal footing, and, if so instructed, they would prepare plans and estimates and frame proposals for the work. They complimented the engineer on the way the load had been brought on, and also with regard to the care exercised at the power-house. Extra asssitance was recommended to enable proper attention to the overhaul of the turbines. The-engineer should also be given some assistance in keeping statistics, which were an absolute necessity if the development of the scheme whs to be properly watehqd. It appeared that the scheme would pay very well next year, and it was the desire of the consulting engineers to see that rates were not altered in a detrimental manner, hut without proper records sound advice as to progress could not be given. The engineer said a twin circuit would have to be run out to Rahotu, and he would like to have a little more information .than that given concerning Messrs Teniplin and Toogood’s estimates of copper required. Mr. Chambers suggested that the board might leave the matter entirely to Mr. ' Crowley., the chairman thought it would he in. the *best interests of the board if the engineer were authorised to obtain the advice of. the consulting engineers, and it was decided to request Messrs Teniplin and Toogood to furnish plans, etc., for the outer area reticulation in the tferms indicated in the report. On the engineers suggestion it was further decided to request' the consulting engineers to report on the advisability of obtaining temporarily a certain amount of power for the outer area from the New Plymouth supply. EGMONT COUNTY ACCOUNT.

With reference to the disputed account of £27 Os lOd ior power supply to the Egmont County Council ’ s *metal crushing plant on the Arawhata Road, Messrs Templin and Toogood presented a lengthy report, expressing the opinion that any trouble which had been experienced was due to the want of a proper size motor and transformer to suit the, conditions. The voltage had been tested by Mr.-Crowley, who reported that it was 393 on full load. A reasonable drop was 2J per cent., or 10 volts, and as the drop was not one per cent. Messrs Templin and Toogocd could not find fault with the supply, to the transformer. The various details of the account were reviewed and the line construction cost of £344,. 15 per cent, of which, it was understood, the County Council agreed to pay, was taken into consideration, and, in conclusion, the. opinion was given that the council had been very fairly treated by-the board, which asked for bare charges for . the first month. ,

It was decided to send a copy of the report to the County Council and request payment of the account.

COMPENSATION CLAIM. A claim for £lO as compensation in respect of a cow which, it was alleged, had been run into by one of the board’s lorries and received injuries necessitating its destruction, was received from Mr. J. Mitchell (Rabotu). Mr. Sinclair, who had investigated the circumstances when the mishap occurred, was of opinion that negligence on. the part of the driver had not been proved, and said that from advice received it appeared it had been un-

necessary to destroy th« oeast. Though the sheds had been partly. torn from two of its hooves, he understood they would have grown again. He thought the board should not accept liability. The engineer thought the driver had not been guilty of negligence.' Cr. Collins considered the owner could hardly be expected to keep . the animal with the injuries it had received, and suggested that, as the board was involved to a certain extent, an endeavour be made to reach an amicable arrangement., 1 The chairman and Mr. Sinclair were appointed to interview the owner and given power to make arrangements.

ONE-HORSE MOTURS, Mr. _F. J. Campbell (Pungarehu), writing oh March 16, expressed dissatisfaction concerning .his account for fiower supply, and asked that the meter be inspected.to ascertain if there was a leakage. - . , . -/ . The engineer, said, that, in accordance with the chairman’s instructions, he had inquired into the case. The plant was run from a two horse-power motor, and he had advised its replacement by one of one hofse-power, as the latter should carry the load and be more economical. The meter , had been replaced. It appeared, however’, that the trouble lay with the transmission, and he recommended its overhaul by the installers. ;7Mr. Tosland said that* several one liorse-power .motors, were already installed and were successfully opiating plants up to five cows capacity. Compared with the two horse-power motors the former proved more economical to consumers and also conserved power. He suggested that the board procure a one' horse-powjer motor for demonstration purposes. „ It was subsequently decided to do this, and that Mr. Campbell be requested to attend a demonstration with the engineer.

FINANCE. A summary of financial operations :of the year ended March 01, 1925, was tabled,' showing receipts as £8489 Os 9d and payments as i'6817 Os 3d, the credit balance at the hank having been increased from £7O 3s 3d at April 1, 1924, to £1742 3s 9d at March 31; 1925. . ' Y : ;

Returns for the month were as follow: Light, £22& 2s 9d.- ,general power, £I3S 10s Id; milking power, £213 Os 7d; supply to Kaponga, £lB, the total being £597 13s sd. Mr. E. P. Burry, solicitor, Wellington, advised that the board’s application for an additional £7OOO, being 10 per cent, of the original loan of £70,000, had been lodged with the Public Trustee. He stated there was every reason to believe that the loan would be granted. \ ; The formal resolution authorising the raising of the loan was adopted, it being also resolved to levy a special rate of one-tenth of a penny in the £ to cover interest, sinking fund, and other charges. , OUTSTANDING RATES. The question of outstanding rates of small, amounts was' again discussed, and, on the motion of Mr. Tosland, it was decided that when meters vvere being read payment should be requested. ..