Electric Power

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 204, 12 August 1927, Page 7

Electric Power

MEETING OF H.B. BOARD. EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS, The monthly meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board was held in Napier yesterday when Mr J. B. Andrew occupied the chair. Others present were Messrs. H. Hill, H. D. Kettle, M. S. Chambers, J. Phillips, J. H. Scott, G. A. Maddison, G. Ellis and T. E. Crosse. Leave of absence was granted Mr J, W. Callaghan. Correspondence was dealt with as under:— A request that the Board pay him 10/- per tree for 32 trees cut down on his property was macle by Mr. J. Bridgman, of Mahora. —The secretary pointed out that in a number of cases the settlers cut the tress down themselves. The timber, he understood, had been sold to timber mills. It was decided to reply that it was not the Board’s policy to pay for the labour of cutting down the trees ami the Board was quite prepared to do the work itself. The Elite Bacon Co-, Hastings, wrote further to previous correspondence, applying to the Board to allow the company to continue to receive supply from the Hastings Borough Council. —It was pointed out that the Public Works Department would not allow the Hastings Council to supply the power and the Board's charges were 20 per cent, higher. Several members were of the opinion that the Board should meet the company in the same way as the Council provided that the company "cut down” its power during peak hours and the matter was referred to the engineer for a report. The Hastings Borough Council wrote acknowledging receipt of the Board’s letter regarding the supply to the Hastings Memorial Hospital and offering to supply the Board, at the borough boundary, with the whole of the current required at Power Board rates less 15 per cent.—lt was decided to write to the Public Works Department asking if the Board was allowed to supply the power as suggested.

TIME SWITCHES ON WATER HEATERS.

''There is no cause to be reasonably sure that the water heaters win be cut off during peak hours and this is an important matter, especially with heaters of high wattage,” state., the secretary m Ins report when referring to Scale B of the schedule ol charges which provided for a cheaper tariff provided a “throw over switch was installed with either heating, lighting, cooking or a motor at the option of the Board. “In these cases time switches should be installed, and 1 think these time switches should be paid for by tin Board. The cost of a single phasi time switch installed is about £6, ami provided the peak is cut off, the co.-, of the switch would he saved in th first year.” On his recommendation it was < cided that the scale of charges amended giving the Board the op. of installing, at the cost of i Board, a time switch, instead ol throw-over switch in all water irnal - exceeding 600 watts. CUTiING DOWN TREES. Referring to the recent Fewer boards’ Conference, the secretary reported that the question of treecutting had been freely discussed and it had been decided to approve ot the remit, which provided tor legislation to be enacted to the effect that if after due notification by a supply authority to cut trees, the person so notified neglects to satisfactorily cut same he shall be held responsible for any subsequent accident or damage which may result m consequence; and, further, that in such cases of neglect the Board may cut the trees at its own discretion and recover the cost without incurring any liability whatever for damages, such cutting to be done with reasonable care. DISPLAYS AT SPRING SHOWS“I don’t think we should compete with the private firms,” commented Mr. J. B. Andrew, when the secretary in his report suggested that in order to advertise the uses of electricity it might be advisable for the members to discuss the desirability of having a stall at the next Spring Show in Hawke’s Bay. “Personally, 1 am in favour of supplying power to the subscribers free,” stated Mr. G. A. Maddison, ‘‘that is, of course, those booths displaying electrical appliances. We want to give every taeility and inducement to anyone wishing to demonstrate the power and use of electricity.” He moved that the chairman confer with the secretary of the show in respect to this matter. It was finally decided to follow this course but if' necessary to make. a charge, to bring it to a minimum.

SECTIONS LIVENED UP. In his monthly report, the engineer (Mr. H- L. Benjamin) stated that the line from Omaranui road tc Fernhill had been' livened up and the consumers were receiving supply In about one week's time the tie line would be livened up ns far as Maraekakaho road and the sections between Tollemache road and Havelock would bo livened up shortly after. In some areas, the work had been delayed on account of overhanging trees, but these difficulties were gradually being overcome.