WAITOMO POWER BOARD

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4810, 18 February 1936, Page 5

WAITOMO POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Waitomo Electric Power Board was held in the Board's offices on Monday, there being present Messrs. W. S. Cato (chairman). W. A. Lee, E. T. Gorton, V. W. Simms, W. Brack, J. N. Boddie, also the secretary, Mr Seeker, and the engineer, Mr. Davidson. A letter from the Wairere Power Board was received, saying it had decided to defer discussion on the Waitomo Board's suggestion to reopen the question of amalgamation until their next meeting, thus giving the the chairman and secretary an opportunity to enquire into any appreciable alteration in the position since the 1931 conference. The letter was received without comment. The storm which occurred on Sunday, February 2, caused a number of interruptions to supply, mainly in the Otorohanga district, stated the engineer. The most serious of these was a tree which fell across the line supplying Tahaia. Power was restored to all sheds by the evening. In nearly every case the interruptions to supply were caused by trees. Criticism is levelled at supply authorities for cutting back treees, but this storm has drawn attention to the necessity for even more drastic action than is taken at present. Power wires brought down by fallen trees and branches, apart from interrupting supply, are a very grave potential source of danger to "life and property. At present the Board spent approximately £75 per annum on .the tree-cutting. A toal of 132 ranges and 87 water heaters have been installed under the range load building scheme, which closes on the 29th instant.