LIGHTS AND POLES

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 275, 19 November 1938, Page 2

LIGHTS AND POLES

Tararua Electric Power Board BUSINESS AT MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Tararua Electric Power Board was held at Eketahuna yesterday. In the absence of the chairman (Mr. J. D. Wilson), Mr. J. B. Carruthers presided, and others present were Messrs. L. Johnston, W. Britland, E. W. Cheetham, W.* Simpson, J. G. Brechin, A. W. Bissett, P, Davies and C. T. Richardson. Leave of absence was granted Mr. T. Fouhy. The managing secretary, Mr. W. F. Taylor, reported for the period elapsing since the last meeting, as follows: “Many inquiries continue to come in, in respect of residential appliances. Alterations and additions to equipment in cow-sheds provide work for our staff and the contractors. No developments take place on the commercial aide of our ability to serve. “The following installations contributed to our connected load during the month of October:—lo electric stoves, 8 water heaters, 11 motors. Credit sales on trading account show an increase. The total for the month was £823 10s lOd. The total cash from all sources amounted to £3017 18s lOd. Of the four shops on the Main Street, Eketahuna. only one is occupied. Miss O’Donnell’s tenancy expired on November 5. The total rental from the property is 10s per week.” The engineer, Mr. D. Fraser, reported as follows on the Pahiatua area:—

‘ ‘ During the month the line staff have been employed on the AkitioCoonoor extension. From the end of the existing line at Mr. Moore’s heavy conductors were run to Mr. Champion’s. This section is part of the line that will supply the Akitio County. A threepole structure was erected at Mr. ChamThis will be the controlling point of the lines going over the range to Pongaroa. The extension from this point to Mr. Armstrong’s and Cantwell’s has been completed and the power made available to the consumers on October 28. On October 5, at 8.30 p.m., the Kelman switch controlling the Makuri-Pori 11 k.v. feeders opened on overload. At 8.45 p.m. the switch was closed, and aftor several sections of the line had been patrolled, no fault was located. Advantage was taken during the P.W.D. shut-down on the 16th to replace h.t. fuses in the borough substation and to ro-strain some of the l.t. conductors which cross Main Street. An air-break switch was also erected at Mr. Heckler’s, Pori. During the lightning storm on Sunday, October 23, h.t. fuses were blown on the Konini and Mako Mako feeds, but no structural damage occurred. Maintenance work has been carried out in the Marima area. Poles were straightened and blocked, conductors re-strained and overhanging trees cut back.

“Eketahuna area: During the shutdown on the 16th some urgent work on h.t. lines between Parkville and Mauriceville was carried out. A bank of 150 k.v.a. transformers was installed in the town sulj-station to replace the existing 100 k.v.a. transformers, which will be installed at Parkville to supply the dairy factory and the new Government houses. Defective service poles were replaced at Mr. Dillon’s, Newman, and also a defective h.t. pole at Hastwells. The Kelman switch at Rongomai, controlling the Alfredton feeders, opened and was closed without delay. This fault was not located. No. 7/14 and No. 8 copper \sire has been dismantled where the 11 k.v. lines were deviated along the clay road between Parkville and the north road. Treetrimming and the renewal of section and service fuses is being attended to as opportunity pormits. “Akitio County: Six miles of the distribution route have been surveyed and the plans are now being prepared to forward to the P.W.D. Mr. Berry, the contractor, is making good progress. All poles round the township have been fitted and erected. Our own staff, which is running the conductors, is also making stead progress despite the fact that on two days wet weather prevented any work from being done. We have received official notice that the consignment of poles and cross-arm timber, which has been holding up the construction work at Pongaroa, has been shipped on the Kaikorai, which was due in Wellington about November l.’*