DANNEVIRKE POWER BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 101, 29 March 1939, Page 10

DANNEVIRKE POWER BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Dannevirke Power Board, yesterday, was attended l>y Messrs M. 0. Grainger (chairman). H. Stratford, A. England. E. Craven, H. Frcdoriekson, 11. P. Horne, Edgar Harding. A. H. R. Gillespie, C. J. Hansard. IT. Pickard (secretary), and F. 0. Devlin (engineer). An apology was received from Mr C. F. Barker. The Power Supply Authorities’ Association forwarded particulars of the negotiations carried out with regard to the difficulties arising in connection with supplies of materials and appliances for line extension work, as the outcome of the operation of the import restriction regulations.—The chairman and engineer referred to the seriousness of the matter as regards supplies of material for extensions. It was resolved to accord full support in the steps taken by the association in

endeavouring to overcome these difficulties. In connection with the loan tor nn extension, a formal motion was carrieo authorising the taking of the necessary steps to raise £IO,OOO of the £30,000 loan. ~ The resignation of Afr R. tv. Ale Leavey, senior inspector, after 1U years’ service, was accepted with regret. Mr E. A. Piper, second inspector was appointed to the vacancy and Mr E. Bremnera was appointed second inspector. , The board went into committee to hear the chairman outline the negotiations that bad taken place with the representatives of the Tararua ElectricPower Board on the question of power supply for AVeber. . Mr Grainger proposed that the board give the Tararua board permission to make a survey of the AA eber county and then place before the settlers the amount of guarantees required by them. The settlers should then call a meeting and discuss the respective merits of the two Iwiards’ schemes to reticulate tbe whole or portion of the district. The settlers could then decide and notifv which scheme they preferred. Tf the Dannevirke Board were ilien satisfied that the interests of the AA’eber settlers as a whole were being served they would place nothing in their wav should they decide to accept the Tararua Board’s scheme. Mr Grainger pointed out that the Da.nnevirke hoard’s scheme for reticulation of the whole Archer district had already been put before the settlers. A motion in this direction was adopted unanimously. , The position in regard to South Maknretu settlers was also discussed. Permission having been given by the Central Hawke’s Bay Power Board to survey the portion of the district in its area, the engineer was able to place a scheme for the supply of the district before the board. The chairman said that the guarantees that would he required had been put befor the settlers. It now remained for tlie Central Hawke’s Bay Board to put their proposition. It was emphasised by the chairman that the representatives on the Dannevirke and Woodville Centennial Committees had no power to commit the board to expenditure. The engineer reported, inter alia: “For the whole month a large gang have lieen engaged upon the new extension to supply the Manawutu Gorge lime works The new line extends Irom the Pinfold Road sub-station, across private property via Oxford Road, thence across p'rivate property, meeting the Main Road near AA oodlands Road. Until the second point of supply lias been made available, the lime works will be supplied from the Rua Roa sub-station. A great deal of valuable time has been taken up in making alterations to lines crossing the railway art Papatawa. This was made i necessary on account of the const ruction of an overhead bridge. Alterations to lines and the shifting of one transformer at Mr Busst's farm will also be necessary on account of the cutting away of a bank to obtain spoil in connection with the approach to the Papatawa overhead bridge. Fourteen new service lines have been constructed, quite a number being for water pumps, and these wore of considerable length. Tests are being carried out in a new method of control for street lights, and as the preliminary tests are very favourable, it is practically certain that Dannevirke will he the first board in New Zealand to instal this method of control. A full report will lie available shortly Owing to the exceptionally fme spell of weather, no serious faults occurred during the month. Six new consumers and thirty-three new additions have been inspected and livened The connected load for the month was 65.97 k.w. Several State houses are in the course of erection at AVondville but. as yet. no application has been made for' a permit to carry out the electrical installation.”