OTAGO POWER BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3885, 28 August 1928, Page 70

OTAGO POWER BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the Otago Electric Power Board was held on Tuesday afternoon, and was attended by Mr W. B. Galloway (chairman), Messrs H. M. Driver P. Briscoe. J. K. Simpson, F. Corson, J Guest, and D. Boyd.' Accounts amounting to £13,615 were passed for payment The Otago Education Board wrote stating that some time ago an intimation with regard to the danger from falling wires to schools had been sent, and the board was glad to see that attention veas being given to the matter. The board was making a contribution of £5 towards prize money, and suggested that others might do likewise. —The letter was received. The Works Committee’s report contained, inter alia, that the board should proceed to incorporate the Owaka extension in its district.—The report was adopted, the works mentioned to 'be carried out. The question of canvassing the Maniototo and Middlemarch districts was mentioned, Mr Boyd mentioning that the dam must be constructed in the summer time, and they must not lose time. He suggested that two or three canvassers be put on without delay. It would - be beneficial to carry out the work expeditiously. He moved —“ That it be left to the engineer to move in the matter, with a recommendation that he should employ two or three suitable men.” This was seconded by Mr Simpson and carried. The report from the chairman with reference to the conference at Wellington was received and the chairman thanked. The engineer-manager .submitted the following progress report:'— Main Transmission Line.—All main lines are reported to be in good order, but two interruptions have occurred on the north line, due to blasting operations of the Public Works Department on the Port Chahners-Waitati road. Stone and scrub fouled our main line, and caused an interruption of over two' hours’ duration, in each case occasioning considerable inconvenience to our consumers. This matter is being attended to. Distribution.—ln the Balclutha district 2210 poles and 306 miles of wire have been erected to date. Alterations to transformer banks, due to extra loading, have been necessary in two places, and a third three-phase bank erected to supply range and motor at Mr Jensen’s, Inchelutha. A transformer at Port Molyneux was damaged owing to a piece of netting blowing across the low tension line, and has been temporarily replaced. All low tension ties in Balclutha have been renewed, and reconstruction work carried out at Kaka Point and Kaitangata. Some poles on the main line have been straightened up and rammed. The men are at present engaged in Kaitangata on reconstruction work. Straw from a straw stack was blown across our high tension line and caused an interruption on the Balclutha circuit, of five minutes’ duration, on August 4. In the Milton district 1679 poles and 207 miles of wire have been erected to date.. The men have been employed in erecting the extension to the Dominion Lime Works, and the necessary transformer bank there. This bank was shifted from Mr Boyd's, at Lovell’s Flat, and is being replaced by one of a slightly

smaller capacity. Reconstruction on the low tension in Union street, Milton, is being continued, and is now practically completed. Necessary tree cutting and clearing is being continued, and the men are employed on this work at present. There have been no interruptions in this district during the month. In the Lawrence district 537 poles and 103 miles of wire have been erected to date. The men have been employed in erecting transformers and connecting consumers at Manuka, 11 consumers being connected up here. Lightning arresters have been erected on the main line, telephone alterations have been executed, anl willow trees cut clear of line. The men are at present running house services at Johnstone, and erecting necessary substation. This line has been free from interruption during the month.

In the Waitati-Seacliff district 857 poles and 84 miles of wire have been erected to date. Transformer capacity had to be enlarged at Seacliff and Waikouaiti, and a temporary sub-station erected at Tuinai. A lot of trouble was caused on the 6000volt line until the end of the month, until such time as the bare high-tension wire had all. been replaced with covered wire where gum trees were in any way close to the line, such as Messrs Jarvis's, Clark’s, and Briscoe’s, Waitati, and also at Merton and Karitane.

Since the end of July the only interruptions that have occurred have been those due to the Public Works Department and the .necessary cessation of supply while transformers were changed on Sunday, the sth inst., and on Tuesday, the 14th inst., from 1.25 to 1.30 p.m., to allow the Electric Power and Light Department to put in new switch gear at Pott Chalmers. Power was cut off the Karitane circuit on Sunday. 12th inst., in order to let down wires at Karitane to allow of the falling of -a gum tree overhanging the line. In the Palmerston-Waikouaiti district 1680 poles and 186 miles of wire have been erected to date. During the month three ** services have been erected at Shag Point and one at Waikouaiti. Alterations to suit two ranges which are being installed at Waikouaiti have been made, and two motors have been connected up at Palmerston, also an extra sub-station has been erected within the Borough of Palmerston to suit range loading. These men are at present employed on reconstruction work at Karitane. Contractors Work.-—The board's contractor is at present running a line to three consumers at Johnstone. Test Room.—Repairs to transformers have been carried out; a new cubicle was installed at Seacliff; 147 insulators for the main north 11,000-volt line have been tested; a maxigraph has been installed at the Balclutha Borough pumping works for testing purposes; 80 single-phase meters and five polyphase meters have been tested ready for service; 13 transformers have been conditioned and despatched for service, and work in connection with transformer records and line calculations is still proceeding. General. — (1) The quotations for the dismantling at Balclutha and erection at Stirling of our store have been received, They are: Mr J. P. Lyle, Balclutha, £l2; Mr H. Bowers, Balclutha, £l5. (2) Matters in connection with proposed Shag valley extension have been attended - to as per instructions. Mr Dunstan is at present preparing a plan of proposed route. (3) went Y’fi ve residents of the Owaka 1 alley have been written to, but as yet only three replies have been received. Mr Albert is not yet fully recovered from his illness. (4) The board’s general foreman, Mr Linklater, is at present on annual leave.