POWER FOR GOLD MINE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5148, 6 July 1927, Page 2

POWER FOR GOLD MINE.

LINE TO MARATOTO VALLEY. BOARD’S AGREEMENT TO SUPPLY. Fpr some time past the Ohinemuri Gold and Silver Mines, Ltd., the workings of which are situated at the head of the Maratoto Valley, has been negotiating with the Thames Valley Electric Power Board for a supply of power to its mine. The negotiations between the partic-s have been protracted on account of the difficulty of arriving at a satisfactory agreement as to what would constitute a maxi- 1 mum load for the company. The matter was settled satisfactorily at the Power Board’s meeting yesterday, when a letter was received from the company advising that the bond for £lOOO had been lodged with the board’s bankers. The company hoped to receive the agreement for supply of power by an extension of the- Hikutaia transmission line in accordance 'with the charges for supply as stated in the board’s letter of September 13, 1926, and in pursuance of the arrangement made with the Under-Secretary .for Mines in March last. The chairman (Mr F. M. Strange) said that the board had safeguarded itself in the matter, and it was resolved that authority be given to carry out the work. In answer to Mr W. E. G. Willy the manager said that if the boartl had to pay a higher cost to the Government, then the- increase would have to be passed on. Provision would have to be made in the agreement that th'e requirements would be limited to within 200 h.p. The company had carried out all that the board required of it. / It was resolved that an agreement be drawn up and entered into with the company. Mr Willy said it did not seem fair that the company could come in and take a large amount of power withoutnny guarantee that an extra supply would not be dearer. He thought that it was reasonable to charge the company with the whole of any increase that might arise. It was pointed out that no increase in price would affect consumers who had been on for years. The engineer (Mr N. Gi McLeod) agreed that tljat was the position. In answer to Mr Willy the chairman said that any increase in price would not affect those people in Patetonga who had agreed to take power. The engineer pointed out that it ' was desirable for the company to take the power as early as possible. Mr H. M. Corbett stated that the company was anxiously waiting for the power.