OPUNAKE POWER BOARD

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 13 September 1930, Page 6

OPUNAKE POWER BOARD

SANCTION FOR BIG ROAN

increased revenge shomn

The Opunako Tower Board, met terday, Mr G. Goodwin j. present were Messrs >v • u S. Tosland, J. P Burton C. J Ld mends, E. A. Collins and W • L. • C1 The b Sueer (Mr D. Eraser) reported- The units generated! ust totalled, 133,200, as against 13 JOO for August, 1929, an mcrease ot .13,300. daily ,e&‘«r«r«iWS " has been an exceptionally busy one in. constructing new ser\ ices ■ind making extensions to the lou tension lines.' Ten three phase and nine single phase services have been iam With the number of new consume! .s t connected load was. increased by _o kav The increase in connected haul since March 31 is 132 k.w. Four nmdred vards of low tension tinge plms. line have been completed on-the iNgarild Road. 500 yards on I atiki Roach a quarter of a mile single phase on tl v Opua Hoad, 300 yards oil three phase on the Elthani Road and 400 yards single phase on the Km Rond. A d the" high tension line on Raliotu Road has been made on the -construction ot and, weather permitting, this line should be completed by September 13. The following permits have been issued during the month: l^hting points 27, heating points 9, niilkn.g motors 7, water-heaters 1, pumps 2 New _ connections veie. Lighting points 57, heating points L, miTking motors 15. pumps 2. In the course of discussion the engineer stated that the load was growfner considerably. In the evening up to 7 o'clock it was about 400 kilowatts. Members agreed that the increase was remarkable and showed the necessity for the provision of extra, plant The .secretary (Mr .T. N Stephenson) reported: Revenue for July was as follows, figures for the previous year being shown in parentheses: Liglvting £475 9s lid (£424 Is Id), stoves £lO3 15s (£BB 14s- 2d), industrial power £<;> 0s 40d (£79 Its Id), milking power £ L 3s Gd (£29 10s), water heaters £3o 10s (£29 17s Gd), street lights £1.2 13s 4u ( £l2 13s 4d), penalties £l2 14s i£ 13 ©st Gd). total £7lO 7s od (£bn. < s gd). The figures represent an increase of 10 per cent, over the previous year, and the estimated increase of 8 per cent, should be more than maintained. All increase in excess of this percentage will increase the estimated surplus of £4OO. GENERAL. The cbier electrical engineer (Mr F. T. Kissel) referred in a. letter to the recent inspection of lines in the Opunake area and drew attention to some overstressed lines and the neeci of giving attention to this matter. Tiie Minister of Public "Works wrote approving of the payment of an honorarium of £IOO to the chairman for the* year. The Loans Board wrote in reference to the development loan of £IO,OOO notifying sanction thereof.—The board considered that guarantees of not less than 18 per cent, should be obtained before extensions of reticulation were undertaken and the purpose of the loan has accordingly been altered. It will, therefore, be "necessary to obtain these guarantees before (loan money is expended. A request was made that the draft voting paper be submitted to the office before the poll was taken and the result of the poll forwarded at- once after it has been held. The board directed attention to the overdraft at March 31, incurred without authority, and directed that if this was likely to be in excess* of the limit

under the Finance .Act application should be. made for consent of the; Board and the Minister.—The seere-tai-y wrote asking for the necessary authority, and stated that the excess of £-101) over the limit was due to unforeseen expenditure owing to damage caused by lightning. In reply to a. letter from the solicitors of Mr E. H. Bartle, claiming damages for a breach of contract to supply electric power, the secretary wrote to say that the board recognised no liability in the matter.

The secretary reported that the bal-ance-sheet ancli profit- and loss statement had been received from the Department, duly audited. Mr Tosland remarked on the tremendous increase- in business and said it was finite evident the- Diesel engine was essential to cope with the demand for supply. Mr Chambers : “Is there any hoard ivhich has not a stand-by plant?’’ Mr Collins referred to the big capital expenditure and said he hoped this would all be tnnsferred to Joan account bv March 31 next. Mr Tosland «a id "that lie considered

copies of the balance-sheet and accounts should he- supplied to members and left for inspection at the office by ratepayers. On his suggestion it was agreed to have some copies typed and that the public should be notified that those would he available for inspection it the hoard office. The chairman said that as this was the last meeting of the board before Ihe election of town representatives, he wished to pay a tribute to the worth :f the present members, Messrs Burton and Edmonds.