HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 September 1926, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

TARANAKI POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. At the ordinarv meeting of the Taranaki Power Board Sit Eltham yesterday there were present: Messrs H. G. Carman (chairman), R. J. Knuckey, T. R. Anderson, J. Dobson, C. E. McGuinness, W. H. Were, J. T. Belcher, and C. Foreman._ Mr W. J. Tristram (secretary) was also present.

RESIDENT ENGINEER’S-REPORT. The engineer (Mr Goldsmith) reported: — The number of consumers to date is 1092, 33 are waiting for the service and 61 further agreements have been .signed. The installation of twoj motors of 25 and 50 horse-power respectively for Taranaki Lime, Ltd., at Toko, has been completed, and several! trial runs have been carried out. I Urn advised that this plant will be in regular operation from 20th inst Heavy wind on the evening of the 16th inst. brought down, two trees on the property of Mr T. J. Hall, Upper Hastings Road, corn pile tel y severing high and low tension- lines. Further trees at the same spot appear likely to give trouble, and X am in communication with Mr Hall with a view to removing this menace. It has hitherto been impracticable to instal water heaters ini cowsheds where art electric motor is not used. I have now made- a device- to get over this difficulty. which has proved successful, and a number of heaters are now being installed in such .sheds. I -regret to report that the arrrtngenientsi to draw a supp'y of power from Kaponga have broken down. After considerable expense had been incurred; by this board in erecting metering equipment, etc., and after several trial runs, the engineer to the JVaponga Town Board expressed the opinion that the supply to his consumers, would he jeopardised if the proposed’ linking up. were proceeded with. While certain difficulties in running the two .systems together were experiended, I do not consider that the impracticability of the scheme has been demonstrAted. beyond doubt. When the Eltham Dairy Company’s plant was first -coupled with the board’s system similar difficulties were experienced, but these were soon overcome. The position is more difficult by reason of the fact that the governor of the Kaponga machine appears too small to function properly. In regard to the- Kaponga supply. Mr Climie said he had been surprised to lfea-rn of the refusal by Kaponga to supply power, tor when the- board reuired extra there was power running to waste'at Kaponga. The latter had most demand in the early morning. He considered it would be an advantage to Kaponga to be coupled up with the Power Board, and believed! that if the matter of the governor were fixed this would get over all difficulties. Mr Goldsmith said that while he was not prepared actually to say the arrangement was practicable, he, would say it was not proved impracticable, 'die matter of “surge” had. worried! the Town Board’s engineer, but that difficulty -had been removed. The allowance suggested to Kaponga. for such, an arrangement would allow the hoard to put on another man and still he well in pocket. The matter depended: largely on the weather and supply of water, he .stated, in reply to a question. Mr Climie added that it was intended to discuss the matter with the Kaponga Board. _ . , After some discussion, it was decided that the resident engineer and Mr Climie should be delegated to confer with the Kaponga Town Board. CONSTRUCTION WORK. Messrs H. W. Climie and Son reported :

I Main Tunnel. —This tunnel was ' pierced and the driving completed on August 23. Since, then the concrete lining of the .section done by contract has been completed to our satisfaction. About 75 per- cent, of this tunnel has been concreted. It 'is proposed to line most of the remainder by means of the cement gun, and this work has been started. No. 3 adit and 1 also No. 2 shaft have been closed. The large valve controlling the intake, of the tunnel has been erected arid; concreted in, and half of the forebay completed. Mako Stream. —It is proposed to expedite the work of deepening this stream by working two shifts from next week. The additional men required ear be accommodated in the Kripara camp, now that the tunnel contractors, have finished.- As soon as this work is completed the valve can be closed at Itatapiko and the dam allowed to fill. Power House. —The erection of turbines and generators is almost completed. A start has been made to concrete the short length of tunnel in the tail race. Mangnotea Tunnel. The overall length of tliis tunnel ds forty-nine chains, half of which is. in good sodad clay, which, however, has been timbered as a precaution. The balance of the tunnel had been driven through peaty material, ea.rryi.ng a fair amount of timber, most of which ds of small size. This tunnel was pierced l on August 28 by the contractors, but about 15 chains still requires to he enlarged. This work oa.n be carried out while a moderate amount of water is being passted through the tunnel from the Mangaotea Stream. The overlying peat can later be broken 'down with a hose and floated down into the dam. Roads. —The .metalling of the deviation of the Ratapiko Road has been completed and ‘the traffic diverted over it. The portion of the Ratapiko Road under the control of the board; is be ing scarified and -resurfaced by the County Council at the board’s expense. Water Races.—Mr Neilson has completed the concrete lining through the deep cutting as far as the Tariki Road, the progress amounting to about l two chains per week. About sixteen chains remain to be done. Mr! Maras, the contractor for the excavation of the water race through the Maugaotea _ swamp, expacts to complete- this work in about two months. Fences. —Tenders' have been invited for erecting about 430 chains of fences. Reticulation. —The wires have hetn erected on the Tiiimoana and Rotokare roads, and the installation of transformers and services wild be completed in about a week’s time. An extension of about half a mile along- the Junction Road from Tvaimata is ready to he livened up. Poles have been erected on the piecework system for about two miles on Brookes’ road; and Nash, Warwick and Victoria, roads, as authorised by the board. Poles will •be erected next along the York road, and for half a mile along the Anderson and Stuart roads. FINANCE. The statement of accounts were as below:—

GENERAL ACCOUNT. Cr. balance last meeting, £13,203 Os 9d; received since, £1906 3s 8d; total, £15,109 4s sd; less accounts to pay, £10,738 7s lOd: balance. £4370 16s 74. Loan Account. —Transfer from; Power Board £IO,OOO, receipts £53; accounts to pass, £14,513 18s 2d; debit balance £4460 18s 2d; -balance last month., £2751 5s lOd.

GENERAL. '• Mr A. Hopson, Bristol road, Inglewood, wrote re power on Ms road. He stated that there were eleven settlers there, and that they hoped soon to be advised whether tlfe power supply could be expected. The engineer said that twelve were signed up fo.r motors and only one for lighting along a distance;. of- fivle miles. —lt was resolved that this' area 'he not reticulated, except under a guarantee by residents. ’ . The secretary advised that thi© engineer’s estimate for reticulation of the recently-included portion. in Stratford. County was £7600, to which had to he added! interest and sinking fund, a total altogether of £IO.OOO. He also advised, re Clifton County Council’s proiposed loan., that Mr Climiie’s estimate was £75,000, which included; distribution lines- £19,800, transmission £10.400, .sub-stations, etc., £9200, and overhead expenses, etc., totalling £24,500, and contingencies £11,050. —The hoard approved of the raising of the loan, and that- the resident engineer; and clerk of works are; to he entrustedi with the work. The passing of monthly accounts coucliuded the meeting.