POWER BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 35, 11 January 1926, Page 8

POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of tho Mana-watu-Oroua Power Buard was held this afternoon, Mr j. A. Nash presiding. Others present wero: Messrs J. Morrison, J. li. Vincent, H. H. Hunt, J. Hodgcns, M. A. Eliott, F. W. Arbon, L. T. McLean J. Linklater, M.P., and P.J. Small. CORRESPONDENCE. From tho A.M.P. Society acknowledging receipt of debenture No. 33, and stating that the interest due in Sydney on January 1 would bo £22 12s Id.—Received.

From the Cheltenham Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd., with reference to tho charges for power, stating that it wished to come under the “motors for industrial use” rate, and asking that the meters l>o read quarterly.—Un tho motion of tho chairman, it was decided to advise the writers that the board could not see its way to grant the request in connecnection with power charges.

From tho Palmerston North Borough Council stating that it was of the opinion that a formal agreement between .the parties should he drawn up, and that it had requested its solicitor to prepare same. The document would bo submitted later.—Received without comment.

From the Royal Society for the Protection of Women and Children, Feilding branch, asking the board if it would make a donation towards tho writers’ funds as suggested by tho board some time ago.—Received 1 . From tho Oroua Dairy Company with re'efrence to tho account for installations, stating that it was prepared to settle tho account loss £lO lSs lOd (cost of wiring up tho motor to tho freezer) which it was found could not bo driven by a7} h.p. motor.—lt was decided to advise tho writers that the full account would have to be paid. From tho Auditor-General, returning tho board’s balance-sheet for tho year ending 31st March, 1925, duly .audited. —Rev lived. From tho Government statistician, asking if tho board had any objection to the publication of particulars of underwriting in the local authorities’ hand book.—Particulars to be supplied. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. Tho statement of accounts was as follows:—Amount of loan, £400,000; received to Rate, £370,000; balance, £30,000; Public Trustee, £32,931 14s; Bank of N.Z., fixed deposit, £20,000; bank balance, £6900 19s lid; available from P. land account, £17,593 18s 2d; total amount available, £107,536 12s Id. Collections for December were: Current, £2387 15s Id, installations £1294 11s 2d, miscellaneous £ls 9s 5d ; total, £3697 15a Bd. Total advances, £47,415 13s 3d; amount repaid £33,45.8 13s 7d;’balanco outstanding, £13,956 19s Bd. Bank balances, loan, £6990 19s lid; power fund, £10,453 6s lOd. Accounts amounting to £34,607 14s 7d were passed for payment. KIMBOLTON-APITI FEEDER. Reporting on activities in connection with tho proposed A piti feeder, tho acting-chief engineer (Mr T. Donaldson) said that, as a result of tho public meeting, matters began to move. Mr McKay, chairman of tile committco set up, mot MiBale, of the. board’s staff, during tho week and made a thorough canvass of fhe district. With tho exception of that part known as Valley road and a portion of Apiti township, the whole route of the proposed feeder was canvassed. The results were most gratifying, and should warrant the making of an early start with the construction of tho line. The estimated cost was £5)000, and tho revenue in sight was over £7OO. giving a return of 14 per cent on capital outlay. The chairman reported that further applications for power had now eomo in, and that a commencement of the work was justified. Without further discussion it was decided to adopt tho report. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr McKay for his activities. TREES ENCROACHING ON LINES. Following a suggestion by tho chairman it was agreed that, when trees we us allowed to grow and become a danger to the board’s lines, alter having been trimmed, the owners lie given notice that, unless tho trees were kept trimmed back, they, would be cut down to axe-handle height above tiie ground. Mr Small: You will serve notices only where necessary ? The chairman: Yes. FATALITY AT FEILDING. Following a discussion on the recent fatality at .Feilding, whereby Mr J. D. South io lost his life, Mr Merson (engineer at Feilding) was asked if ho could mako any suggestion to eliminate future possible danger. That gentleman replied that work on the poles could bo done between 4 and 8 a.m. with power shut off during that period. The chairman thought that the Ixmrd should do this, and, on his motion, it was decided that the engineer’s suggestion to imt into effect straight away, Mr Morson to report at the next board meeting. GENERAL.

The reports of both engineers were read and adopted. Reporting in connection with the suggested line to Tangimouna, Mr Hunt said that there did not appear much possibility of a sufficient number oT consumors being forthcoming to justify the capital outlay on the line. Mr Morson was instinoted to report on tho matter of reducing the board’s charge to the writers.