ELECTRIC POWER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 September 1925, Page 8

ELECTRIC POWER.

OPUNAKE DISTRICT SUPPLY. MEETING OF THE BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Opunake Electric Power Board was held at Opunake on Friday. There were present Messrs C. A. Trotter (chairman), J. P. Burton, T. H. H. Sinclair, E. A. Collins, J. Hickey, J. S. Tosland, 0. M. Stowers Crowley (engineer), and J. N. Stephenson (secretary). An anologj' for absence was received from Mr W. L. F. Chambers. THE MONTH’S WORK. The engineer (Mr C. M. StowersCvowley) reported as fo'Jows : Construction.—The twin circuit extending from Opunake to the . Aiawhata Road was livened up on the 9th inst. On account of the factories wanting the power every day, all work on the main north line had to be abandoned. I. do not expect to be able to extend this circuit any further until next year, when it wil| be continued out to Pungareliu as soon as the milking season slackens off. Extensions. —The Tipoka Road was completed on the 14th, and the power was available on the following day. Mery wet weather considerably interfered with the construction of this extension, and the work of completing it was later than I anticipated. Warea District. —Work on this extension has been somewhat delayed, as the construction gang has been kept going linking up milking motors. A permanent wiring gang is now employed on the above and good progress is being made. The transformers for this line are all ready to erect and there is every possibility of getting the power turned on as far as the Puniho store within a week from date. Poles. —The 220 poles that arrived by the s.s. Poolta have been carted from New Plymouth and laid out on. the Tipoka Road and on the Warea, Rnakere, Lower Arawhata and Puniho roads. Ninety-five more were landed bv the s.s.' Gabrielle, and have been placed on the Stent, Bavly, Kahui and Upper Puniho Roads. One hundred 20ft silver pine service poles have been ordered, and should be here within a fortnight. Consumers—Sixteen milking sheds and ten houses have been linked up, and there are quite a number of motors waiting to be connected. Extra hands are being emp’oyed to speed up the running of service lines. Plant. —The load is increasing rapidly, and we have already exceeded last year’s peak load. On the morning of the 15th a high tension line came down yn the South Road near the Oaonui Dairy Factory, causing an interruption in the service. Although mauy of the milking sheds were cut off, no time was lost in effecting repairs and the service was again restored by S a.m. In reference to interruptions such as the above, I would like to draw vour attention to the fact that we were seriously handicapped owing to the telephone exchange not opening until 7 a.in. It is of the greatest importance that on stormy mornings J should get in touch with various parts of the district and ascertain whether there is any interruption in the service, but this is impossible with the a resent hours of the exchange. A very severe electrical storm caused a ; good: dea], of damage to the high tension fuse gear, and also destroyed several house service meters. The present lightning arresters on the system are not sufficient, and the matter of further protective geair is at present under, consideration. Transformers.—Five additional distributor transformers have been ordered, and also a. largo one for street lighting. -Alterations.—On acount of the load building up rapidly, alterations in the secondary mains on the Ngariki. and Manahi Roads are required. The necessary. wire is, to hand, and this work will be pushed on with as soon as the remaining motor services are completed. The report was adopted. RETURNS FOR THE MONTH. The statement covering the returns for the month was as follows:—Light, £514 4s 5d ; milking, £1 15s ; general, £56 8s Id; penalty, £4 13s 7d • total. £377 Is Id. £22,000 LOAN. The chairman explained that it would be necessary to strike a rate over wliat was formerly the outer area to secure the interest and sinking fund on the loan of £22,000 which was recently authorised. They had been, advised by the financial agents that advances required immediately would bo aiuanged for as early as possible. It was resolved to strike a. rate of seven-tenths of a penny in the pound over what was formerly the outer area (i.e., that portion of the Egmont County between the Montoti Stream and the Puniho road), and to apply for an advance of £SOOO immediately. A vote of thanks to Messrs Collins and Tosland was passed in appreciation of their services in addressing meetings at Warea, Raliotu and Puniho in connection with "the loan. In proposing tlie motion, the chairman said they had been most efficient and enthusiastic. having devoted a great deal of time besides travelling approximately 200 miles in their enedavours to place the position before those interested, and they were to be commended on the excellent spirit shown. NEW OUTER AREA. The Under-Secretary Public Works Department (Mr F. W. Furkett) forwarded copies of the proclamation declaring the portion of the Taranaki County between tlie Puniho Road and the Stony River as an outer area of the Opunake Electric Power ’District, as from the 20th August. HIRE OF HOARD ROOM. In accordance with notice, Mr Sinclair moved to .rescind the standing motion regarding the letting of the board roc.in lor meetings. He explained that it was necessary to rescind the motion in view of the fact that the beard room was now to be used as the engineer’s office. Mr Hickey seconded, and the motion was adopted. FINANCING CONSUMERS, Arising from an application made for financial assistance 'in installing electrical equipment, a discussion took place concerning the system. Mr Collins advised that care in such cases be taken to avoid the possibility of too much capital being tied up. The chairman explained that the system was first adopted in order to finance suppliers requiring motors or other equipment. The intention, was to provide assistance in having installations made for consumers who might experience difficulty in making financial' arrangements elsewhere. Power consumption and revenue which might otherwise be lost to the board was thus ensured. Money so advanced had to be secured by land or other sound assets, and bore interest at 8 per cent., the borrower being also required to repay the principle in instalments. Advances already made amounted to approximately £1500,, half of which had been repaid. Mr Tosland. objected to the principle ! involved in the case under review as part of the loan was required for the

instalment of a stove, this being a consuming factor which the board unshed at- present to discourage, as until provision was made for a stronger supply, it was desired to conserve power as far as possible lor operating milking plants. . Mr Sinclair explained that the use or stoves was granted only on the condition that disconnection was agreed to ir the demand for other supply made it necessary. ' . This was borne out by the engineer, who also said that the necessity for disconnection would probably not arise, lint the condition had to be made as a safeguard in the case of power Jessing consequent on.loss of water pressure as the result of a dry season. After further discussion, the application. for assistance was approved, on the motion of the chairman. GENERAL. Mr C. 0. Edwards applied for authority to instal an electric stove in his house, now in the course of erection. The application was approved on condition that the applicant agree 'to temporary disconnection of power for the stove should the demand fo.r other purposes render it necessary. A. F. Chapman (Raliotu) wrote, stating that the chairman, on the occasion of the recent meeting at Raliotu, had promised to have the power line completed on the Lower Kahui Road if it could be shown ittwould return. 10 per cent, on the cost of construction. Ho stated the length of line would he one and a half miles, which at the estimated rate .of £350 a. mile, would cost £525. Against this he estimated tlie revenue at £7l annually, this being approximately 13.1 per cent. He therefore asked that the completion of the line be given favourable consideration. The engineer intimated that the work would he undertaken as soon as possible in its turn, but that it could not be given precedence as though some of the properties on the road were wired, there were other roads on which properties had been wired for two years and one of the’latter roads showed an estimated return of 17 to 20 per cent. It was resolved to reply accordingly.

The chairman and, engineer were authorised to proceed to. Wanganui on Thursday for the purpose of interviewing Mr J. R. Templin (consulting engineer to the board), who had advised that he would be present at a meeting bo be held there on that day.