POWER IN COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19889, 7 March 1928, Page 14

POWER IN COUNTRY.

FRANKUN BOARD'S AREA.

REDUCTION MADE IN CHARGES. PROGRESS OF RETICULATION. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESI'ONUKNT.] PUKEKOHE, Tuesday. The Franklin Power Board met this afternoon, the chairman, Mr. J. Dean, presiding. For the new financial year, the board decided to. abolish the minimum charge for power for- milking motors ami to charge instead 4£d per unit, this being estimated to mean a reduction to consumers totalling £750 a year. It was also decided to reduce meter rents by Is a meter a year, a total reduction of, £250 a year, and to reduce the minimum charge for drainage pumps by 2s 6d a month on the second horse-power, a total reduction of £SO a year. The chairman, Messrs. H. P." Garland, W. L. West and G. T. Parvin were ap pointed a committee to consider the ques tion of a new agreement covering charges for power supplied to the Pukekohe Borough Council.

The Local Bodies' Loans Board ad vised that it approved the Power Board's proposal to raise £20,000 for further reticulation, as the 10 per cent, addition on its previous loan of £200,000.

A number of offers of the use of areas of land for experimenting in reticulation by using electric-power for pumping the required water were received. Arrangements were made for the irrigation committee, together with a representative of the Agricultural Department, to deal with the matter on Thursday. The engineer, Mr. T. R. Overtoil, reported that new lines had been surveyed at Drury and Station Road, Pukekohe. Polo erection in the Waiau Pa-Patumahoe area, including the work on Charles' Road and to the Mental Hospital buildings, should be completed this week. The canvass of the Onewhero and Pukekawa districts was progressing satisfactorily and arrangements had been made to import poles direct via Port Waikato for the erection of lines in these districts.

Application was being made to the Marine Department for permission to cross the river with the electric mains atl'uakau or Te Kohanga, whichever crossing should prove the best from a financial point of view, taking into consideration the load offering on the respective routes. Following a canvass of the Humia and Happy Valley areas, a start had been made with canvassing the Ararimu district. When the full results were available, the question of reticulation in these areas could be fully considered.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. CABLES ON lIAURAKI BRIDGE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TE AROHA, Tuesday. The Thames Valley Power Board met this afternoon, the chairman, Mr. F. Strange, presiding. The resident engineer of the " Public Works Department intimated that a decision to carry power cables over the Hauraki Bridge at liopji could not be unduly hastened, although it was thought satisfaction would be given in this connection at an early date. The Coromandel County Council requested favourable consideration of a proposal to extend the board's power service to Coromandel and district. The engineer, Mr. W. J. McLeod, was deputed to visit the locality and report on the merits of the proposal. Several requests for revision of charges were deferred pending n review of such matters after the board's annual meeting.

The manager, Mr. R. Sprague, reported that the. total number of consumers connected to the board's mains on February 29 was, 5046, apart from 1056 and 625 in the boroughs of Thames and Te Aroha respectively. The total number of motors connected and running on farms was 2289. In addition. 36 consumers had lighting and heating additions made during the month.

SERVICES IN WAITOMO. PROPOSED NEW BOARD OFFICES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TE KUITI. Tuesday. The Waitomo Power Board met yesterday, the chairman, Mr. W. A. Lee, presiding. The manager, in his report, said the total revenue for sales of light and power, material, installations and sundries, for the month of February amounted to £2129 13s lid. The total number of consumers now being supplied by the board was as follows:—Te Kuiti Borough, 713; Otorohanga township, 101; country districts, 236. These connections included 145 motors, 112 water heaters, 43 ranges, 6 pumps and 3 washing machines. The necessary resolution for procedure in raising the board's loan of £20,000 was passed. A discussion took place in regard to the erection of the board's new offices, for which, in part., the above loan is proposed to be used, and as to tihe scheme that would be adopted in this connection. It was decided to hold a meeting of the board on Monday to further discuss the matter, and at the same time to ask Mr. L. S. Cook, of Otorohanga, to be present at that meeting, the latter having written to the board offering his services in con* nection with the proposed structure, in the capacity of supervisor.