ELECTRIC POWER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 June 1927, Page 3

ELECTRIC POWER.

SOUTH TARANAKI BOARD

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS.

The annual meeting of the South Taranaki Power Board was held last evening, tiio following members being present: Messrs E. A. Paoey, E. Long, E. A. Washer, J. B. Murdoch, N. C. limes, L. A. Bone, also rite board’s secretary and solicitor. n apology was? received from Mr F. J. Stevenson.

The following statement has/been issued by the board: — Mr L. A. Bone was re-appointed chairman for the ensuing year. Correspondence from the WanganuiRangitikei Power Board and the Public Works. Department in regard to alterations of boundaries was received.

The various local bodies of the board’s district wrote agreeing] to collect the power rate of id on. the oapital value and notifying their intention to charge 5 per cent., the sum allowed by law, for .such collection. The Taranaki Power Board wrote notifying! that it had a surplus of current available if this board were purchasing. The chairman presented his annual report as follows: —(A very full (account of the board’s operations was published on, October 23, and it is not prepared to traverse the same ground again in detail). During the year the board lias had more or less to mark time on that part of its activities that are of the greatest interest to its ratepayers viz., the supply of electrical energy. It was hoped that following on the conference between; this board and the Hawera County Electric Co. held last year that it would have been possible by now to have had the board operating its plant .and isupplying current in its district. This was not to be, as the company decided to .continue to operate for the full period allowed to it by the Statute. At tine expiry of the term the option .to purchase be exercised by the board. The board engaged as engineer Mr T. R. Overton, who has investigated and reported upon a general comprehensive survey of the board’s district and outer area, and also, full details of the electric company’s plant. and reticulation. Alterations of Boundaries. —It was decided bv the board to offer no opposition to the inclusion- in the district of the Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Board part of this board’s outer area situated between the Waitotara and Whenualcura irivers. This alteration has been gazetted. An application was made by certain residents of the greater portion of the County of Patea to be excluded from the outer area of this hoard, and included in the district of the Wangan u i-Ramgi, tikei Power Board. This hoard, however, considered that any further reduction of the onter area, territory would be against the best interests' of the board and opposed such application. Legislation.—Last session the; necessary legislation was passed enabling this board to purchase .the Hawera County Electric Light Co.’is undertaking in place of the local bodies mentioned in the 1902 Act. The matter of giiivng notice to the company of the board’s intention to purchase under section 16 of the 1902 Act is .still under close consideration by the board. ' During the coming financial year the Meal bodies within the board’s district will collect the necessary rates to enable the hoard to meet the preliminary expenses i ncurred up to date and which have been kept ais low iais possible. This rate of Jd in the £ is expected to yield about £2678 .after making due allowance for deductions and the/cost of 5 per cent for the collection: . The expenditure to date is £1413. Estimated expenditure for current financial vear (less £215, part of above £1413), £1265. :