ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 July 1925, Page 6

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

ACTIVITIES AT 01TNAKE. WORK OF THE MONTH. The Opnnake Electric Power Board met at Opnnake yesterday. There were present: Messrs C. A. Trotter (chairman), J. P. Burton, W. L. F. Chambers. .1. S. Tosland, J. Hickey, E. A. Collins, C. M. Stowers Crowley (engineer). and J. N. Stephenson (secreENGINEER’S REPORT.

The engineer (Mr C. M. Stowers Crowlev) reported as follows: — During the month the construction gang have been 'doing maintenance work on the Eltham Road and Pihania sections. A small amount of damage was caused by the recent storms, and one or two slight interruptions occurred in the service. Insulators have been replaced on the Upper Waitcaka Road and on the Main South Road from Pihania to Oeo. A small section of this line has vet to be changed, and this should end our trobule s from this direction.

Construction. —The remainder of our last lot of poles have been erected on the Warea Road, and all work in this locality had ceased. Theer is every possibiity’ of another two hundred .poles being delivered within the next few days, and I expect to be able to continue constructing the main line on the Ruakere Road. It will not bo possible to liven any part of this line until the second circuit is completed to Raliotu. The wire for this circuit is to hand, hut a portion of the cross arms have not been delivered. A section of the main line Opnnake and Arawhata Road is ready for wiring, and this work will he pushed ahead at once. The power will have to,he cut off the Pungarehu line on alternate days for the next three weeks, in which time T hope to have the lino completed. Some inconvenience may ho caused hv isolating this line, hut it will he iinpossihe to carry out the work otherwise. Every effort will he made to push this work through a s speedily as possible. Consumers. —Eight connections have een made for the past month, _ and there are several more motors waiting to he connected. The wi ring _ con tractors are working along the Main South Road towards Punilio, and there is a possibility of power being available there until the end of August. General. —A further 240 poles will he required to complete the reticulation of the outer area. The demand for power on the Bayly Road is sufficient to warrant a line being constructed. A further mile of line is wanted on the Upper Kahui Road, and owing to the shortage of poles no work has been done on the Tipokn. Road. The line on the Lower "Arawhata Road will have to be extended a further 25 chains. Alterations have been made to the circuit on Longfellow Road, and a street light has been erected on the Whitcomho Road. The power house has been operating satisfactorily during the month. The report was adopted. THE MASSEY MEMORIAL.

A letter was read from the Egmont County Council enclosing subsidiary subscription list, and asking co-opera-tion in the appeal being made to secure funds for the erection of «, ’memorial to the late Rt. Hon, AY. F. Massey. The chairman intimated that the hoard was fully in sympathy with the object, and the secretary reported that a few donations had already been received. AUROA ROAD RETICULATION. A letter was received from Mr A. E. Moss, engineer to the Kaponga Town Board, , who stated that, as agreed, he had canvassed the Auroa road. Oil the Opimake Board’s frontage there were five residences in three miles, and on the Kaponga side there were three. He estimated his board could secure a few more consumers on the Stratford-Opunake road. If the t|punake Board would authorise the Kaponga Board to erdss the road he would accordingly recommend the latter to reticulate.

Mr Crowley pointed out that if possible one board should supply the road, as if each reticulated its own side the respective expenditure would not he justified by the probable revenue. After discussion it was decided, on the motion of Messrs Tosland and Burton, to authorise the Kaponga Board to arrange for supply to consumers on the Opnnake side of the road. ASSISTANT ENGINEER’S SALARY. Stating that lie had completed 12 months’ service, Mr 11. W. Basson, assistant engineer, wrote applying for an increase in salary. An advance on the present sdale was recommended by the engineer, and on the motion of Air Collins an increase of £26 per annum was granted. OUTER AREA LOAN.

For the purpose of fully explaining the position with regard to the proposed loan of £22,000 over the outer area,. it was decided to call public meetings to be held at Warea, Rahotu and Pungarehu prior to the poll. GENERAL. The action of the committee in making final arrangements with Messrs J. B. Mac Ewan and Co. concerning the testing room, half cost to be met by show l-oom fittings was endorsed.. the chairman reporting that an agreement had been made to erect a door to a the board. He explained that all appliances were to be tested before delivery was accepted. Air H. F. Toogood, consulting engineer to the board, who at the previous meeting was appointed the board’s representative at the Power Boards’ Conference, wrote accepting the nomination. Accounts totalling £264G 2s 6d were passed for payment.