TIMBER FOR POWER POLES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16946, 30 January 1926, Page 11

TIMBER FOR POWER POLES.

LEARNING BY EXPERIENCE. “Spotted gum” not suitable. A discussion regarding_ the failure of certain power transmission polos took place at the last meeting of the Te Awamulu Power Board. The. Public Works Department’s electrical engineer for the Waikato, Mr T. MacLennau, recently wrote to the board asking if it was correct that the Board had used bluegum and silver birch for poles. The manager, Mr D. McArthur, denied that these poles were used. He said the low-tension cross-arms were bluegum and they were satisfactory, but most of the poles that had to bo replaced were of the eucalypt variety known as the spotted gum. This was not at all suitable timber for poles. About 200 of the spotted gum poles had been replaced. Signs of trouble were evidenced when the sap swelled above the ground level and burst, the heart being exposed to the weather. On some of the poles fungus formed, and this, or the swelling previously referred to, was a sure indication of a rotten pole. r JTio board could not, have foreseen that the spotted gum poles would prove unsuitabe. Mr F. 0. Danioll contended that all along the hoard had used reasonable prudence. It should not be forgotten that they wore guided largely by the advice and statements of Government engineers, who knew well that the board members, in common with nearly all other power hoards, were new to the business, and not well informed as to the qualities of Australian timbers. They had found by experience that the timber supplied was not all good, but the hoard was not alone in. that discovery. The board bad been informed, rightly or wrongly, that the Australian shippers or millers would not accept orders fpr one. species of timber alone, and that they would only supply mixed hardwoods. For some time, however, only genuine ironbnrk bad been used.