OPUNAKE POWER BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 January 1929, Page 6

OPUNAKE POWER BOARD.

THE MONTH’S WORK

■SATISFACTORY INCREASE

Tile position disclosed by tlic reports of the secretary and engineer of the Opunake Power Board to the 1 monthly meeting held yfesterday at Opunake was considered 'very satisfactory. A considerable increase in power used and consequently in revenue being noted. Members present were: Messrs G. Goodwin (chairman), W. L. F. Chambers, J. S. Tosland, and J. Hickey junr. Heave- of absence was granted Messrs J- P. Burton, A. E. Gollins and. G. O. Edmonds. SEGRETARY’iS 'REPORT.

The secretary ('Mr J. W. Stephenson) reported as below: — . Revenue, showing the receipts for the month of November with the actual increase and the percentage increase as compared with the previous November is as follows: Light, £344 14s 2d; increase, £SO 15s 4d; 17 per cent. Milking power: £470 19s 10; increase, £33 7s 2d; 7.5 per cent. Industrial power: £194 5s sd; increase, £44- 17s 8d; 29.6 per cent. 'Stoves: £64 'los sd; increase, £22 ISs sd; 52.4 per cent. Water heaters: £57 3s 9d; increase, £4 10s; 7.7 per cent. Street lights: £l2 13s 4d; increase, 13s 4d; 5.5 per cent. Penalties: £l6 18s; increase, £3 15s lOd; 22.2 per cent. Totals: £ll6l 4s lid; increase, £l6O 7s ?d; 16 per cent. The figures shown are very satisfactory, every class of revenue showing an increase. The increase in stove revenue, 52.4 per cent., further illustrates that the era of electric cooking is fast approaching. A demonstration in' electric conking took place on December 15, about 50 people attending. The demonstrator explained and showed how successfully cooking could be dene by electricity, and I feel sure that from the board’s point of view the demonstration did must to advertise electric ranges. There appears to exist throughout the district an idea that there are restrictions governing the installation of stoves, and I would like to make it clear that there are absolutely no restrictions, and any consumer is at liberty to instal a stove at any time.

The Teport ivas adopted, members remarking that the increase in revenue of 16 per cent, was very gratifying. The demand for stoves was also 1 very pleasENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr T. B. Morson) 'reported as follows. —- Efficient service has been maintained by the station, free from any serious defects. A service isolation of 30 minutes was caused on December 20, due to the failure of an insulator bushing on an instrument transformer at the rear of the switchboard. A spare being available, the damage was promptly dealt with. These bushings are a weakness at the station, awing- to the exceptional operating conditions that have to be met with, namely, the de-

posits of dust and salt moisture, and to miligate against possible future failures I am indenting larger busking designed for a- considerably higher voltage than that at which we are operating. ' ' ! The highest demand recorded at the station during the month w;as 3.60 kilowatts, as against 330 kilowatts iu December, 1927. Tk-j total of units generated was 120,300, as against 118/700 units for December, 1927. Towards the eiid of' the month heavy rains supplemented the stream now, our ovrii plant to provide for the whole area -' without recourse 5 " to ’ outside sources;' ' 1 ■ • ■ •

■General maintenance work has been dealth ’with. A 100 k.v.a. transformer has been erected to supply the requirmnts of 'the Opunake town area. The street lighting system is being overhauled as opportunity offers, specialattention being paid to the street lighting' brackets. A transformer was burnt out on the Ruaker’e Road. This unit had been-badly knocked about during a lighting disturbance two years previously,' and; although not actually destroyed at that® time, was evidently weakened to such an extent that 1 it simply collapsed during service. A spare was erected immediately, the consumers not being inconvenienced in any way. 'Orders' are being placed for materials for the Opurapa Road construction, and I anticipate commencing this construction' towards the end of flic present month. " ■ Permits ' were issued during the month for the following installations: Righting points 20, heating points 5, milking motors 1 2-h.p., industrial motors 1 3-h.p., pumps 7 -J-h.p. The following new services were connected during : the ' month: Lighting points 15; heating points 6, electric ranges 1, 'water heaters 1, industrial motors 1 3-h.p., milking motors 1 2-h.p., water pumps 5 :}-h.p. r : ■ GENERAL. The chairman of the Opunake Harbour Board rvrote asking to be allowed the use of one of flic board’s offices pending the erection of its own office. Tie also asked tliat the board’s secretary be allowed to' carry on the work until the new Harbour Board secretary took up liis duties early-in February;— The applications were granted;