CENTRAL H.B. POWER BOARD.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 59, 21 February 1931, Page 5

CENTRAL H.B. POWER BOARD.

THE SECRETARY’S REPORT. At the monthly meeting of the Central H.B. Power Board held yesterday in Waipukurau the secretary (Mr. G. E. Fowler) reported:— “Since the lest meeting of the board the meters throughout the area have been read. In the No. 1 area the electricity revenue for the three months ending 31« h December, 1930, was £4045 6/4, as compared with £3575 19/- for the same period in 1929, an increase of 13.1 per cent. (The revenue during tjhe preceding quarter ending 30th September was £4368 0/1). The value of the energy sold in the Waipukurau Borough for the two months ending 31st. January was £744 3/4 as compared with £737 11/5 for the same period in the previous year when light was Id dearer. The account for energy purchased from the Public Works Department for the quarter ending 31/12/30 was £l9Ol 0/6 as compared with £1616 16/- for the same quarter in the preceding year, as against £lB6O 7/2 for the quarter ending 30/9/30. The increased percentage for energy for the quarter as compared with the same quarter in the previous year was 17.6 per cent. In regard to extra expenditure incurred through the recent earthquake, the Electrie Power Boards Act, 1927, Amendment gives power for the Commissioner of the Depreciation Fund (in our case the Public Trustee) to pay a power board out of the Depreciation Fund invested with the Public Trustee, a minimum sum of £2OO under certain conditions. If the board decides to pay for the earthquake damage from depreciation account, it will be necessary to come to a decision on the matter. This matter can be discussed at the board’s meeting when further data will be placed before you.” The report was adopted. ENGINEER’S REPORT. “Numerous small matters that would have been commented on in the ordinary course of a monthly report have lost significance in the larger work of clearing up after the earthquake. Up to the time of the shake supply was well maintained, but the damage resulting therefrom was so widespread that supply was only available on the night of Tuesday, 3rd inst., in a very small part of "our area. Numerous complaints from individual consumers reached my home that were impossible to deal with until later. I concentrated on the damage that would benefit collectively neglecting that which only affected individuals. By Monday, 9th inst., I had practically got all consumers whose premises were in order back into service, but in most cases the repairs were more or less temporary, in some cases so much so that the further shake of the 13th put them out of action again necessitating further repairs. It would be superfluous to try to enumerate the many troubles experienced, but the most outstanding were transformer bushings broken off, in one case a transformer burned out and a pole at Otawhao burned off, due to a line falling off the insulator. Numerous services were twisted up causing fuses to blow, as well as lines, both high and low tension broken. A total of 2633 miles wore travelled by the board’s transport in effecting repairs. I propose, now that supply has been restored to all consumers whose premises permit of that boon, to systematically recondition the whole area, restraining all lines that require attention and generally making everything safe. No further labour than our existing gang will be necessary and the work will, I estimate, take from two to three mouths to complete, subject, of course, to the amount of new work that comes forward in the way of new consumers. An approximate estimate of the cost of making things shipshape again, including wages and material already paid for and some small quantity of material already ordered will amount to round about £450. “The fire siren installation was overhauled during January, when it was found that the coil that operates the magnetic switch had burned out to such a degree that when cool it allowed current to pass, but on heating up tho resistance became too great to allow any current to pass, with the result that the circuit opened and closed automatically governed by the heating and cooling of the magnet coil. The switch was sent to Wellington to be re-wound end has been returned and will be re-installed when opportunity offers. The discovery of this fault does not do away with the necessity of the second pilot wire if the Fire Board require the siren to be stopped from one point only. The maximum has been tested and found to be 6.44 per cent slow on the 15 minutes interval timing. The same has now been adjusted and re-connected into service and appears to be keeping in step the limits of accuracy. Tho followwith the Department’s meters within ing are the details of the connections for the months of December and January: — Now connections (11) 1532; ranges, 155; hot water services, (1) 244; shearing motors, (3) 97; milking motors, 80; other motors, (5) 197; and additions (13) 490. In addition a baker’s oven of 119 k.w. was installed at Onga Onga.