ELECTRIC CURRENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 20 September 1927, Page 6

ELECTRIC CURRENT.

TARANAKI POWER BOARD. EXTENDED RETIC ULATION. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Electric Power Board was held at Eltham yesterday. There were present: Messrs H. G. Carman (chanman), W H. Were, R. J. Knuckey, C. E. McGuinness, T. R. Anderson, J. Dobson, and T. J. Belcher. PAYMENT OE DUE§.

Mr. A. J. Barr secretary to the Stratford Progress League, wrote to the effect that the League had carried a motion requesting the board to make arrangements to receive payment in Stratford for electric power charges against consumers adjacent to the town. It was stated that residents were put to a good deal of inconvenience by the necessity of forwarding their clues to Eltham. ~ It was resolved to hold this mattei over for the time being, though it was the general opinion that it would be a convenience to consumers if the request were complied with. TAR AT A EXTENSION. The resident engineer reported that a canvasser had called upon the settlers in the Tarata extension who had signed the preliminary petition, but at present the outlook was not promising. The feeling appeared to _ be evenly divided in the area, and it would be necessary for the canvasser to also call oil those who had not signed the petition before any headway could be made. This would be done as soon as The engineer said he understood that the rest of the settlers were not in favour of the extension. There did not seem to be much chance of a poll being carried. He would, however, proceed with the canvass immediately. CONCRETE POLES.

The use of concrete transmission poles by the Marlborough Power Board received a considerable amount of publicity, and the statement was made that the experiment was being watched by supply authorities throughout the Dominion. The inference that the Marlborough Board was the first to use concrete transmission poles on a comprehenisive scaJo was nx>t correct, as the Taranaki Electric Power Board did the pioneering work in this mattei. The latter hoard manufactured nearly 3000 concrete poles and commenced to put them into service three years ago. While it was yet too early to form a definite opinion as to the serviceability of the concrete pole, the fact that not a single failure had occurred and that no disadvantage had been discovered in three years’ service, pointed to the probability of the use of these poles becoming universal. This was the opinion of the board’s consulting engineers, Messrs H. W. Climie and Son, on whose advice the experiment was undertaken. Air Goldsmith said it was about time to correct the wrong impression and give due credit to the Taranaki Board. , Mr. Climie expressed the opinion that other boards would not have tried the experiments if the Taranaki Board had not had the courage to give it a fair trial. _ , .. ~ Air. Anderson remarked that it tne wooden poles had come to hand the experiment would not have been tried ° Ut ‘ THE AIONTH’S WORK.

The resident engineer, Mr. B. H. Goldsmith, reported as follows on the past month’s operations: j The number of consumers as now 1336 and 97 further authorities are signed. During August 366,200 units were generated at the power station, the heaviest demand, 780 kilowatts, occurring on Tuesday, August 23. Inquiries for milking motors and cowshed water heater installations have now slackened off, and the wiring department has practically caught up with this work. During the fifty-five working days ©ndcd fecptcnibor 14 fifty-three water-heaters and fifty-seven motors have been installed. An inquiry has been received from the Inglewood County Council connection with street lighting in Tarda township. Two or three lights would be required. An offer for this service has been submitted for the board s confirmation oi £3 15s per annum per lamp of 100 c.p. plus cost of lamp renewals; erection costs to he borne by the board. The generating plant at the Kitnain Dairy Company’s butter factory is showing signs of the effect of damp. This was not apparent as long as the generator was in commission, but it appeal’s advisable that if it is not to be kept in commission it should be removed from its present situation. An inquiry has been received from the Public Works Department as to the charge that would be made by this board for power supplied from the power station to the Public Works' Department’s system. A tentative offer was made and the correspondence placed in tli& secretary’s hands for submission to the hoard. . ’ Reticulation work has been earned out during the month as follows : Poles have been erected on Tawhiti track and Mountain Road as far as Air. Owen Jones’s .property; Toko to tlie Huinga factory; Ohura Road to Douglas factory. Wire has been erected on Tawhiti track and Alountain Road south; Toko Road to Huinga factoiy; Cornwall Road; Ohura Road to railway reserve. Several Public Works Department and Post and Telegraph Department requirements have been with. It was decided to notify the Eltham Dairy Company that if it was not prepared to purchase the generator the board intended to remove it. FINANCIAL AIATTERS.

The loan account showed a credit at last meeting of £12,068 19s 8d; received since, £312 6s lid (£12,381 6s 7d) less accounts to past; £4433 8s 7d —cr. balance, £7947 18s. Power fund account: Credit last meet in" £2022 11s 9d; received since, £1555 Os 4d (£3577 12s Id), less accounts to pass £936 17s 9d —cr. balance, £2640 14s 4d. Accounts totalling £5370 6s 4d were passed for payment. ORURU ROAD RETICULATION. It was resolved, on The recommendation of the resident engineer, to authorise the reticulation of seven-eiglvths of a mile of the Oruru Road to Air. Bird’s property. The engineer reported that tbe immediate revenue to be expected from this source was £4l, ami there was a reasonable prospect of a- further £7O or £BO per annum at a later date.