ELECTRIC POWER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 203, 10 August 1928, Page 8

ELECTRIC POWER

MEETING OF H.B. BOARD CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS. The monthly meeting of the Harbour Board Electric Power Board was held in Napier yesterday afternoon when Mr W. Harvey presided in the absence of Mr J. B. Andrew. Others present were Messrs R. D. Kettle, G. A. Maddison, T. E. Crosse, J. H. Scott, H. Hill, W. Callaghan, J. Phillips and J. Ellis. Leave of absence was granted Messrs M. Chambers and J. B. Andrew. The Controller and Auditor-Gener-al wrote regarding depreciation, and stated that the amount should be com putcd for that portion only of the year subsequent to the passing of the Act. —The secretary reported that this would mean a reduction of £lOOO. The letter was received. The Postmaster-General wrote stating that in the matter of a telephone line between the board’s office to the Hastings Exchange, he was making inquiries, and would communicate with the board as to the results of that investigation.—Received. An application for the erection of the service line to the Sailing Club grounds at Westshore was made by R. V. C. Harris.—On the recommendation of the works committee, the line is to be erected REPORT ON CONFERENCE. Reference to the recent Power Boards’ Conference was made by the secretary (Mr H. H. Whylie) in his monthly report. He stated that an effort was being made to have legislation enacted giving supply authorities power tn have trees overhanging the rdad cut down, in the same manner as Borough and County Councils. At present the councils were the only loeni bodies that could compel owners of land to lop overhanging trees. A remit was passed that the investments allowed under Sections 23 and 30 of the Electric-Power Boards Amendment Act, 1927, be extended to include all authorised trustee investments. A bill had been before the House of Representatives providing that all charges against titles by local bodies shall be registered against the title. This would mean that all charges under Section 119 of the Electric Power Boards Act, 1925, would have to be registered. THE MONTH’S WORKING. The secretary reported that the house wiring in Bayview area was proceeding and houses were being con nected as the wiring was completed. Tenders had been called for approximately twenty houses in Eskdale area. In order that the work might proceed he would suggestion that'a small committee be formed with power to deal with the tenders. During the coming month the various jobs in Puketapu area would be scheduled and tenders called for the house-wir-ing. The work of connecting milking and spray plants had been proceeding. There was a big rush on this work at present and consumers nad been delayed somewhat due to shortage of staff caused by influenza. However, every effort was being made to get the installations connected so as to cause the least inconvenience.

The engineer (Mr H. L. Benjamin) reported that Bayview, including three substations was livened up on 2nd August and the service lines and house-wiring were all well in hand. The poles have been erected along Eskdale section as far as Mrs Beattie’s house. It was estimated that, the line as far as Mr Brown’s house, Kaiwaka road, would be completed within six weeks of date. If the necessary guarantees forthcoming it was proposed to carry out future extensions as follows:—Poukawa (11 miles), Puketapu (5 miles), Papakura (S miles), Maraekakaho (8 miles) Shrimpton (4$ miles), Mangatahi (7 1 miles), Ben Lomond (4} miles), Livingstone (5 miles), Turnbull (7J miles), Okawa (7 miles). Short Extensions (51 miles). Total 68 miles. It was estimated that the lines to Puketapu would bo completed by December, 1928, and as far as Shrimpton by February, 1929. The bulk of the material for the extensions as f.-.r as Shrimpton’s was on hand, but on account of extra short extension and service lines ho would recommend calling for tenders for additional copper wire and transformers for delivery, January, 1929.