Pole Erector Interests Kaitaia

Northern Advocate, 14 February 1940, Page 2

Pole Erector Interests Kaitaia

With astonishing rapidity, the poles for the electric power reticulation of Kaitaia are being erected, and when, in the progress of the work, a start was made in Commerce Street on Monday morning, there were many spectators, including farmers, whose minds, running on farm development economy,- wondered how long it would be before the digging of post-holes by machinery would become practicable. By means of the pole-erector, which cost well over £2OOO, holes 20 inches in diameter and six feet deep were made in a few minutes, and the machine that digs the holes also lifts th» poles and, with a little guidance from one man, stands them erect in their proper positions. In the actual digging of the holes and erection of the poles, only two men are engaged—the driver of the machine and an attendant. These two men are preceded by others, who attach the cross-arms, etc., and another gang follows up the machine, filling in and stamping the earth around the poles. Twenty-six poles can be erected in one day, and the total number of men employed is ten. Very few days ■will suffice to complete this part of the reticulation in the town. The poles are up in Pukepoto Road, Bonne)l’s Road, Lake Road, part of Redan Road and from Pamapuria, the point of bulk supply, through the greater part of Commerce Street. As far as can be gathered, the prospects for obtaining supplies of materials for house wiring have improved since the visit of the Hon. Walter Nash to Kaitaia.