HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 June 1938, Page 8

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Electric Power Board was held in the board's office on Tuesday, presided over by Mr. G. A. Monk (chairman). Also present were Messrs. W. E. Barber, T. 6. Vincent, R. 0. Hornblow, D. Richards, A. E. Hyde, C. S. Keedweel, F. W. Vickerman and A. Seifert. Inquiry lor Power, Mr. W. H. Mullins, Victoria Road, wrote inquiring if the board would be prepared to take the power to his property. —It was decided to obtain 'an estimate as to the cost of installation. Office Accommodation. The Levin Borough Council wrote acknowledging the board’s letter asking for additional office accommodation, understanding that the council realised the urgent necessity for providing additional accommodation for the board, and that it had made arrangements with the Horowhenua County Council for its engineer to occupy the present Mayor’s room, which would leave the engineer’s room available to the board at a rental of £4O per annum, as from July Ist. The council, however, asked the board if it would agree to a conference between the county council, the borough council and the Jboard, to consider the whole question of accommo- , dation, with a view to meeting the re'quirements of the local bodies eoncern- ■ ed.

The chairman said ho believed, the borough council had some extensions tp. the existing premises in mind. The board’s lease expired in July of nextyear, and he considered a conference at an early date would be most necessary, Avhen a discussion could ensue, not only on office accommodation, but the future policy of the board. Mr. T. G. Vincent expressed the opinion that the board should go into the question of erecting its own premises. The board was paying a rental of £2OO per annum. Money was available at 3J per cent and it appeared as if it would pay the board to consider a building proposal. It was "decided that the finance committee, together with Mr. Hyde, represent the board at the proposed conference, and that if possible a report be submitted to the nex't meeting of the board. General. Providing the necessary guarantee is forthcoming, it was decided that a low tension extension be made in Ashley Road.

An application was made for an extension of the low tension line to Kuku East Road, The engineer submitted an estimate of thd cost bf the work and revenue, but no action was taken in the meantime.

It was decided that the next meeting of the (board be held on Monday, July 25th, at 10.30 a.m.

Engineer’s Report.

The engineer submitted the following report covering the period from May 18th to June 21st ; —■ “During the period 24 new service lines have been run, 5 existing singlephase services converted to 3-phase, 2 temporary services run, and two dismantled services re-erected. Forty-five poles have been fitted and erected and 289 chain's of wire run on E.H.T. and L.T. lines. One additional outdoor substation has been erected. An extension of E.H.T. lines is being erected on King’s Drive, Tiro Tiro Road to Weraroa Road, and a sub-station erected. Heavier wire has been run on King’s Drive, Levin, and Rata St., Tokomaru. The e.h.t. and l.t. lines on Albert Road have been completed, and the consumers’ services put into service. The halfyearly earth tests have been carried out. Two circuits have been run between the fire station and telephone exchange, Otaki, for use in connection with the fire alarm svstem.

“Installations : During the period 33 applications have been received from new consumers, and 26 for extensions to existing installations, included in which are 11 ranges, 10 waterheaters, 1 milking, 2 separator, 1 industrial, 4 shearing, and 4 pumping motors. Thirtyfour new consumers, and 30 extensions have been included in which are 13 ranges, 14 waterheaters, 1 industrial, 1 separator, 3 pumping, 4 shearing, and 3 milking motors, making a total increase of 188.59 k.w. “I would ask for authority to puri chase 2 150-k.v.a. and 2, 25-k.v.a. transformers at an approximate cost of £380.” Commenting on the engineer’s report, the chairman said that the demand on the existing lines was becoming increasingly heavy. It would be necessary to bring a heavier line through to Buckley corner at an early date. The report was adopted.