POWER STATION PLANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20628, 29 July 1930, Page 11

POWER STATION PLANT.

KING'S WHARF EQUIPMENT^

CONSIDERATION OF TENDERsj COMPANY'S DISSATISFACTION* \ Dissatisfaction with tlio manner irt which tho Auckland Power Board dealti with its quotations for 15,000 kw. turbo alternators and boilers for tbo King's Wharf station was expressed in a letter; received by the board from the Asso* dated General Electric Company, which 1 mado an offer of plant manufactured by tlio A.E.G. Company, of Germany. Tliohoard decided upon British plant, a. Eraser and Chalmers alternator set, and boilers from Babcock and Wilcox, Ltd*

A report on the position was given atj a meeting of the board yesterday by th» general manager, Mr. 15- H. Bartloy. Ha said the board had received an offer through the Associated General Electrio Company for a complete plant and in* stallation, including three boilers and two chimney stacks, for £81,955. but subject to the plant being allowed into the* country free of duty. Additional figures were obtained from the Associated Gen. eral Electric Company, which made it clear that the cost of two boilers and on® chimney stack of the A.E.G. manufacture,, f.0.b., was £20,874. The price of Bab. cock and Wilcox for their two boilers and one chimney stack was £34,500, re* presenting a difference between the two offers of £13,626. Efficiency of the Boilers. In comparing the specifications of Iha two makes of boilers offered Mr. Bartley said he found that the A.E.G. Company's plant had a total heating surface of 29,000 square feet for tlio two boilers and th® British plant had a heating surface of 38,814 square feet for the two boilers* There was thus an increaso of approximately 34 per cent, in favour of th<» British plant. The efficiency of the German boilers at normal rating was shown at 79 per cent, and at maximum rating 77 per cent., whereas the efficiency quoted for the British boiler under normal load was 84- per cent.

It was estimated that 80,000 tons of coal a year would be consumed in these boilers and to produce the sam>3 number of units with the A.E.G. boilers 5 per cent, more coal would be required, repre-> senting 4000 tons. Assessing this coal a<i £1 6s 9d, the extra cost a year wonld bo approximately £SOOO.

An amended offer was received frori% the Associated General Electric Company,, which reduced its price for the. plant fc© £60,000 f.o.b. and included duty to b® paid to the New Zealand Government, Mr. Bartley said. Confirmation was also received from Babcock and Wilcox, Ltd.» with an adjustment in price and an agree* ment to accept payment' in Auckland* This amendment represented a reduction, of approximately £4OOO on the original offer and was accordingly accepted. | Point of Company's Complaint.

Exception was taken by the Associated General Electric Company to the figures quoted representing the values' of the turbo alternator and equipment and th« boiler plant respectively. "These figure#

were calculated l'roni the f.o.b. values, supplied by the company," Mr. Bartley said. "Their point of complaint is that)

their amended offer cancels all other quotations. They also state that, if these separate values had been required they could have been furnished by them. Under the circumstances it was not feasible for application to be made to them along these lines, as the information was requested during the board meeting, and the values adduced from the figures available." At the same time it was made clear that an amended offer reducing the amount to £60.000 f.o.b. had been received. This offer of £60,000 represented a reduction of £6193 on the previous offer, but included the sum of approximately £IO,OOO for duly, so that, disregarding the item of duty, the value of the plant was reduced by about £4OOO. The report was received. The tender of J. T. Julian and Sons,. Ltd.. of £6334 10s, was accepted for foundations and extension to the power station building at King's Wharf _ for the accommodation of the additional plant. Mr. Barllcy said the work involved putting piers down at regular in~ tervals with a concrete raft as a base-, and a considerable amount of reinforcing.; The estimate was £IO,OOO.