POWER MATTERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 213, 22 August 1931, Page 3

POWER MATTERS

THE CENTRAL HB. BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Centra] Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board was held at Waipukurau yesterday morning, the chairman, Mr A. C. Russell, presiding over Messrs W. H. Rathbone, A. C. Holmes, W. Malenoir, R. A. Fraser, C. Pattison, F, J. Witherow, J. H. Kerr and M. Ryan. The secretary. Mr G. E. Fowler, and the engineer, Mr J. K. Lee, were also in attendance. The secretary of tho Treasury, Wellington, wrote advising that, from August 1 last, interest payable on the new local body loan was reduced by one half per cent per annum. The secretary’s report read as follows:— ENGINEER’S REPORT. The board’s engineer, Mr J. K. Lee, reported as follows: — “Between July 17 and August 1 gales of high velocity were experienced almost daily with disastrous results to many of our lines, poles being shifted and binders broken, and the result in three cases was the cross-arms and pole burned, and in several other cases wire burned through, though one wire coming adrift and contacting with another wire that has remained fast “The major portion of the trouble being experienced of binders breaking is due to the fact that during the erection of our lines, particularly in the Takapau and Otawhao districts, short ends of hard drawn cable wore heated and quenched and used as binders, and it is now evident that without proper appliances for dealing with the working of copper wire, some of the wire was overheated and has now granulated, as evidenced by some of the binders breaking up like straw. Whether it is advisable to go over the reticulation and comb out doubtful binders or whether it is better to renew binders as the fault occurs is a matter I should like the board’s opinion on. During the period of stress recently experienced, Mr Keir in removing a tree which had blown down, injured his back and has had to lay up since August 4. “I require the authority of the board to proceed with the erection of 20 chains of low tension reticulation to permit supply being given to Mr W. J. Craig, Takapau, as soon as the ■guarantee of £l5 is letgircd.