OTAGO POWER BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 73

OTAGO POWER BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Otago Electric Power Board was held on Tuesday morning, and was attended by Messrs W. B. Galloway (chairman), D. Boyd, P. Briscoe, F. Carson, J. Guest, H. M. Driver, and J. K. Simpson. The Finance Committee recommended the payment of accounts amounting to £6510 7s 2d. —Adopted. The- chairman thanked Mr Simpson for representing the board at the Manuka celebrations. CORRESPONDENCE. The secretary of the Palmerston Horticultural Society wrote asking for a trophy for competition.—Trophy to be given. The Under-secretary. Public Works Department, wrote stating that tion was being given to the sale of the depot and stores at Balclutha.—Received. Messrs M’Leod Bros, wrote asking the board to supply power’ to Stewart Bros., Mount Stuart.—Received. The town clerk, Dunedin, wrote stating that he had received the estimated load for the year 1929. —Received. Mr R. M'Croskie, Lovell's Flat, wrote applying for a supply of power.—Left in the hands of the engineer-manager. MANAGER’S REPORT. The engineer-manager reported as follows:— Main Transmission Lines.—All main lines are reported to be in good order. Distribution.—ln the Balclutha district, 2226 poles and 310 miles of wire have been erected to date. Repairs to low tension at Stirling and Rose Lank were necessary after trie snowstorm on the 9th inst. Reconstruction work has been continued in Kaitangata, two poles being renewed in Salcombe street Repairs were necessary to the 6000-voit line on the North road. These men are at present employed on the motor service to Ross Bros., Inchclutha. In the Milton district 1679 poles and 207 miles of wire have been erected to date. This gang has been assisting the Lawrence gang in their construction of the line to the Mount Stuart sawmill. An extra phase on the high tension has been run to Bain’s at lokoiti, and a three-phase transformer erected in place of a single-phase. Some tree cutting has also been done by this gang. These men are at present working on the line to supply 10 horsepower motor near Milburn. Owing to short circuit in the low tension, L.T. coils of two small transformers have been damaged in this district. This is a difficulty which has been discussed before. It would be a costly business for the board to equip these small transformers with L.T. fuses. At present, we are trying to overcome the difficulty by using lead fuse wire on the H.T. side of these small transformers. Power was off in this area on two occasions during the month, one due to a fault at Waipori, and one due to a broken wire during a storm on the 9th inst. In the Lawrence district, 545 poles and 105 miles of wire have been run to 'date. Since last report, these men, together with the Milton gang, have been employed in erecting an 11,000-volt line and sub-station to the sawmill at I Mount Stuart, also in connecting up consumers at Johnstone, where transformers and low*tension are being erected. A tree falling across the 6000-volt line at Wetherstone.’s on the 6th inst. and a telephone wire falling across the 6000-volt line on the 4th inst., caused two interruptions in this district.—Adopted.

WORKS COMMITTEE. The Works Committee reported as follows:— In the Waitati-Seacliff District 875 poles and 86 miles of wire have been greeted to date. Since last report, pole 49 on the main 33,000 volt line has been shifted because of public works roadmaking requirements; 6000 volt Shackle insulators at Waitati and Purakanui have been renewed. This gang was also employed with the Palmerston gang on line from Orbell’s to Nolan’s oh- the North road. These men are at present employed getting poles to Seacliff. A break at pole 28 occurred on the main 33,000 volt line on the 30th inst., causing an interruption ‘from 3 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. An interruption on the 9th inst. was caused by _ the Port Chalmers breaker tripping. This may have been due to the telephone line, as after the heavy wind it was necessary to retie the telephone wire. In the Palmerston-Waikouaiti District 1721 poles and 194 miles of wire have been erected to date. Three house services have been connected at Dunback, and -the line from Orbell’s to Nolan’s erected to effect supply to Nolan’s on the Main road. These men are at present working on low tension to Mr Reid ? s at Waibouaiti to supply him with power for motor for pumping. Transport.—On the 7th inst. our 30cwt “ Dennis ” truck suffered collision with one of Messrs Hudson and Co.’s lorries. Hudson’s lorry driver admits that he caused the collision. The matter was placed in the insurance company’s hands, and satisfactory repairs executed. The truck was in commission again on the 12th inst. The Studebaker has been laid by since last Wednesday. A leak on the outside of the cylinder head occurred and several unsuccessful attempts have been made to repair by welding. It will be necessary to procure a new head, which will cost between £5 and £6. The fact that a spare could not be procured before the end of this week from the agents is most unsatisfactory. Contractor’s Work.—The board’s contractor has completed the line to consumers at Johnstone, and is at present erecting high tension line at Bowler’s Creek. Testroom.—Fourteen transformers have been conditioned and despatched for- service, 110 meters have been tested in the Kaitangata District, completing the testing of those meters taken over from the Kaitangata Borough Council. Six meters have been repaired and tested in the testroom,’ and repairs have been effected to one transformer for which spares have arrived.—Adopted