ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 February 1926, Page 6

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

THE OPUNAKE SCHEME

OPERATIONS OF THE MONTH

The monthly meeting of the Dpuimlte Electric Power lionrd was held at Opunake yesterday. There were present: Messrs C. A. Trotter (chairman), E. A. Collins, J. Hickey. J. I*. Burton, .1. S Tosland, and W. L. t’’. Chambers.

Hie engineer (Mr. C. _\]. Stowers Crowley) reported as follows:

Construction. —In the Warea area the work of extending the Puniho ■Road iine was commenced at the beginning of the month. The pole fitting nas been completed. as far as the Carrington Road. Owing to a breakdown witli the pole crane no further work could be done on this section. Immediately the new wheels for the crane are delivered, the construction of this line will be continued. The liayly Road has been completed and all the service lines have been erected.

Stent Road. — The high and low ten. s ion lines have been completed and the power turned on. The servicelilies wiil be completed as soon as possible. Consumers. —A total of twelve new consumers have been connected to the supply; these include three milking sheds and one stove. The wiring contractors are busy in the Warea district, where there is still a good demand for power.

Materials. —A further lot of 111 poles arrived by the Kaiapoi. The balance of this order (40) axe not yet to hand, but should be here on the first direct boat to New Plymouth. Wo have now sufficient poles to complete all the roads ip. the Warea district, and as there are no further extensions outlined, I do not anticipate any further poles being xequired for some time yet. The transformers and wire have also been delivered, and there seems to be every possibility of getting all the construction work completed by the end of March. Maintenance. —A very severe storm on the 22nd caused a good deal of damage. Trees were blown across the lines in four different parts of the district, causing interruptions in the service. The secondary mains on the Ngariki Road have been replaced with heavier copper and the service is much more satisfactory. The sub-station on the Lower Arawhata Road has been shifted to tlie new crushing site oil the Main South Road.

Powerhouse. —The plant has been operating continuously during the mouth. Some damage was caused to the governor of No. 1 turbine, through a. piece of board getting through the screens. Temporary repairs have now been effected and this unit is now operating satisfactorily.

General.—The Harbour Board intends installing power to drive an air compressor. This will necessitate a high-tension line down the Jetty Road. The present secondary line will have to be altered, anil I propose getting on with this work as soon as possible. The report was adopted.

With reference to the reported damage as the result of trees falling on the line, the secretary was instructed to communicate with the Power Boards Association’s solicitor requesting advice as to legal (lowers of recovery. The damage caused to the turbine ■owing to its reported blockage by a piece of wood was discussed, and the engineer was instructed to have notices elected at the lake warning the public against depositing refuse or any matter which might cause a blockage.

FINANCE. A statement of returns for the month of December was tabled as follows: Light £268 18s, general power £l4l 9s sd, milking power £327 17s 4d, penalties £lO, water heaters £2B; total £776 4s 9d. Accounts totalling £2584 8s lid were passed for payment. The Public Trust Office (Wellington) acknowledged receipt of notice dated January 19 that a further £SOOO (being portion of the £22,000 outer area loan) would be required within three months, and advised that the board’s account would be audited accordingly. CAR OWNER’S CLAIM. Mr T. H. Hickland (Rahotu) wrote requesting the board to repair the damage done to his car as the result of its collision with the Oaonui bridge. Mr Hickland claimed that the driver of the board’s lorry was responsible for the accident owing to his alleged excessive speed and action in driving on to the bridge before the car was clear.

The engineer said he understood that the lorry was not on the bridge when the mishap occurred, and pulled up 27 feet short of the point of impact. The driver, who was experienced and reliable, considered he had not been at fault, and was prepared, if necessary, to defend any action taken. Messrs Collins, Hickey and Tosland were appointed to investigate the matter and report to the board. GENERAL. Messrs Chambers, Collins and To»slaud were appointed to represent the board at the complimentary banquet to be tendered at Eltham to the Hon. D. J. Hawken, M.P., upon his elevation to the Ministry. In compliance with its application Harbour .Board was granted permission to sub-let the offices leased from the Bower Board.

An application received from A. Raynor for permission to instal an electric stove was approved. r A letter received from the Kaponga Town Board requested that the Rower Board’s engineer be given permission to supervise the Kaponga Board’s electrical staff during the absence of its engineer on holiday.—The engineer was authorised to officiate as requested. A complaint, received from Mr Butler (Tvahui) with reference to water heater charges was referred to the engineer for attention.

A committee was appointed to deal wtih the secretary’s recommendation that a mechanical calculator and a cash register he procured to supplement the office equipment.