Busy Month Recorded By Power Board

Northern Advocate, 13 September 1940, Page 2

Busy Month Recorded By Power Board

Last month was one of the busiest since the North Auckland ElectricPower Board commenced operations. Main items „ connected during the month were 31 ranges, 75 milking machine motors, 26 separator motors and 113 water heaters. These facts were recorded In the report of the engineer (Mr T. R. Ovormn), submitted to the monthly meeting in Dargaville yesterday. in order to counteract the low power factor tendency of the seasonal increase of milking motor load, additional static condensors had been installed in the appropriate districts with satisfactory results, stated the engineer. Whangarei District Work.

Group wiring contracts were still backward, particularly on the Whangarei side of the board’s district. Additional guarantees totalling £4O had been signed in the Parua Bay district and further canvassing was still in progress.

In the Titoki-Pakotai area 33 properly owners to date had signed guarantees of £653 per annum, while there sti'll remained a large number of settlers to be interviewed.

The canvass of the Puhipuhi area had been completed and was being ebsled.

Main survey work during August had been in the districts of Avoca, Myrua and Puhipuhi' and also at Maungatapere in connection with the site of the switch house for Wilson’s substation, where the contractor was making good progress with the building. Plans and Surveys.

Regarding plans and surveys, the engineer stated that a further four applications had been prepared for submission to the Electricity Controller, and two previous applications had been revised for re-submission.

A preliminary load survey plan of the Puhipuhi district had been submitted to the Advisory Committee, and reticulation plans of the Maungnluroto district had been revised. Authority was given the engineer to purchase stocks of pole blocks, hightension insulators, meters, lamps, electric ranges and water heaters, all of which were required. Waipu Proposal.

Commenting on the work of the board. Mr F. Elliott said he appreciated what had been done in the Hikurangi district. A proposal from Waipu that a qualified electrician now resident in the settlement might be permitted to undertake trouble work when the board’s trouble man was not available was advanced by Mr A. J. McKay, who moved that with the engineer he should inquire into the position and be given power to act. Mr R. Nesbitt considered that a grave principle was involved in such a proposal. The board decided that Mr McKay and the engineer should report to the next meeting.