WAIROA POWER BOARD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18063, 13 April 1933, Page 14

WAIROA POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD (Herald Correspondent.) At tho monthly mooting of the Wairoa Power Board, then; wore present Messrs. E. 11. (ilendinning (chairman), R. Ta'p])or, .inn., J. R. Gillespie, M. R. Shaw, 0. ('. Ormond, ,T. Cork ill, 0. V. Chamberlain, W. Tait, D. D. Prvdo and 11. L. Marker. It was decided to send to tin l telegraph engineer, Napier, a copy of the balance-sheet in connection with the cutting down and disposal of trees cut adjoining power lines at Nuhaka.

The Minister of finance wrote regretting it would not be possible to accede to the board’s rec|iiest for a grant to assist in repairing damage caused by the earthquake in view of the present state of the national finances, and pointing out that assistance is now afforded to local bodies under the Local Authorities interest Reduction .and Loans Conversion Act, 19321933, which reduces interest charge* 20 per cent, upon the original rates paid.—Jt was decided to keep the matter in view to be brought up later against the amounts in dispute with the Government. The Public Trustee wrote advising that owing to the operation of the Local Authorities Interest Reduction and Loan Conversion Act, 1932-33, notices of the next instalments of interest payable on loans raised will be forwarded showing the next and future interest payments due liali'-

vearly.— It was stated that some of the Wniroa loans came under one Act and some under another, the reduction in one case being 10 per cent and in another 20 per cent. —The letter was received.

The resident engineer, Tuai, wrote advising that it was proposed to cease the supply of Lake House feeder at Waikarenioana power station through the main generator, and supply it through a transformer from the local service generator, and inquiring the capacity, taps, etc., of the Lake Douse transformer. —The opinion was expressed that this w-ork should be done by the Public Works Department, or at least it should have been done when the board had its staff on the spot. —The matter was left to the engineer to deal with.

A letter was received from the Wuiroa Borough Council requesting the board to confirm an arrangement that electricity used to pump water through the Freezing Company’s pipe line after the September earthquake lie charged at the same rate as the council pays for electricity at Frasertown settling tank.

The resident engineer reported on the work being carried out in (dealing the transmission line to Lake House.— Tt was stated that the work had not given satisfaction and so far the cost was £4o.—The matter was left to the engineer to complete the work otherwise, and to supply a full report to the next meeting.

The resilient engineer, Mr C. J. Drewitt, reported as follows:—“The re-testing of all earths through the district as requested by the Public Works Department is in progress. The Lake House line was overhauled and put in order. The relief workers’ gang was relieved on March 17, while testing earths and maintenance work is being brought up to date. O.ie service pole at .Toblin’s, Morore, will have to be replaced. On Sunday, April 2, the main air break switch at the sub-station went out, power being off for two hours. On Sunday, April 9, power was again off from 1.30 p.m. until 4.4 p.m. to allow the Public Works Department to replace 50,000volt insulators on this main line. Faults on low tension lines at Ardkcen Kiwi occurred on March 25, and at Waihirere on April 7, all being at once corrected.’’ The report was read and adopted, Mr Darker voting against it in consequence of some disparity in the clearance figures as between the county and borough. The board dealt with ft number of overdue accounts, and agreed to write off certain readjustment sums on the books. It was decided to send to the Public Works Department a list of outstanding debts, with a copy of the finance committee’s report and show the department what its board was up .against. It was decided to authorise the engineer to procure a number of slot machines for current uses, it being stated that the one at Whakaki was greatly appreciated.