ELECTRIC POWER

Southland Times, Issue 25309, 12 June 1935, Page 9

ELECTRIC POWER

MEETING OF BOARD OFFICERS’ REPORTS 1 The monthly meeting of the South--land Electric Power Board was held yesterday, Mr William Hinchey (chairman) presiding over the following members: Messrs J. T. Carswell, W. McChesney, A. McKenzie, D. J. Heenan, P. Arnott, W. M. Norman, A. A. Mac Gibbon, T. Golden, A. le H. Hoyles, E. K. Sim, and W. J. McKenzie. The following letter was received from the chairman of the Loans Board. Wellington:—“The Loans Board at a meeting resolved that it is prepared to consider the issue of a sanction for Monowai extensions at its next meeting if your board by that time has not obtained a reasonable quotation for supply of surplus power.” The matter was discussed in committee. The following resolution, moved by Mr Mac Gibbon, was adopted:—“That the Southland Electric Power Board pursuant to and in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 56 of the Electric Power Boards Act, 1925, as amended by Section 8 of the Electric Power Boards Amendment Act, 1927, hereby resolves by way of special order as follows:—That the full amount of the uniform rate to be levied by the board under Section 56 of the Electric Power Boards Act, 1925, for its financial year commencing on the Ist day of April, 1935, and expiring on the 31st day of March, 1936, shall be payable with respect only to properties (as defined by the said section) for which at the time of making such rate a supply of electric power will be available at the boundary there of or at a point within ten chains of such boundary, either from the board or from any licensee or other authority, and that with respect to properties for which such supply will not then be so available one-third of the rate shall, subject to the provisions of Sub-section (b) of Section 3 of the Electric Power Boards Amendment Act, 1928, be payable, notwithstanding that with respect to any such property the whole rate may be demanded. Chief Engineer’s Report The chief engineer (Mr L, G. Hutton) reported for the month of May as follows:— , The month’s rainfall at the Power station was 6.81 inches. The lake rose to 680 ft. 6in., giving a river discharge of 402 cusecs against a power station consumption of 382 cusecs, from which it will be seen that the wastage was quite small. . Winton Area:—Fourteen service lines were erected, distributed all over the area Waitane, Nightcaps, Tuatapere and Spar Bush. Two of these were for range services, and all the others were for new consumers. Several transformers were changed, their locations being Gap Road, Heddon Bush, Benmore, Caroline, for change from three phase to single phase, and Pahia, Waianiwa and Forest Hill for other reasons. During the snowfall, a transformer in the coal field broke down, and had to.be temporarily replaced by two others in parallel. Several short extensions of low tension were made— Spar Bush 10 chains, Centre Bush 5 chains. Forest Hill 30 chains, Clifden 8 chains. The stays damaged by the floods on the Aparima were replaced. Several bird guards were erected on transformer structures between Otautau and Fairfax, and some Post and Telegraph guards at Drummond. At the substation, there was a stoppage of threequarters of an hour on No. 1 on the 6th, due to a burnt pole top at Orepuki. and on No. 5 on the 26th, due to a fault at the Gore end of the Waitane feeder. Invercargill Area: There were thirteen service lines erected, two of these being for motor power and all the rest for lighting only. Their location was widespread, from Waikawa to Riverton, but the majority were township dwellings. Two transformers appear to have been damaged by lightning on the 6th and 7th. and had to be replaced, while an extra transformer was erected at Kew for building purposes. Several short low tension extensions were made at Heidelberg 4 chains, Wrights Bush 49 chains, Toa 16 chains, Mokotua 61 chains, and Morton Mains 36 chains. Wires were removed at Gorge Road, Dacre and Kapuka, a total of four miles altogether. On Sunday, the 12th, No. 4 feeder was changed from the old route to the new one, and 35 poles were removed from the old route and brought into the yard. On the 19th, alterations were made on Gore No. 5 feeder, and two dozen insulators and several poles were salvaged. At Glenham, while the gang was there, opportunity was taken to make a rearrangement of transformer and lines replacing 35ft. poles with 25ft. ones; 19 of the 35ft. poles were brought into stock. Gore Area: Snow and stormy weather characterized the early part of the months, with the result that there were several interruptions caused by twisted wires. No. 4 had a tree blown across it at Otikerama which caused two stoppages of one hour and one and aquarter hours. On the sth, gusty weather caused wires to twist on the Dusky and Wilden branches. On the 20th, an insulator on No. 5 broke down near Pine Bush. Another fault on No. 2 on the 4th caused a stoppage of 35 minutes after which the fault cleared itself. The construction party completed the Crookstan-Moa Flat deviation and livened it There remains now only the erection of certain airbreak switches, for which positions have been prepared; and the removal of certain poles from the 'old lines. At Kelso, a line was run on the State Forest service poles, erected under special agreement, and a service was made available to two houses. One of these was wired in 1924. Apart from the above works, service lines were erected to thirteen new consumers, five being in Gore, and the rest spread over the countryside. A transformer was changed at Charlton Road, and also at one of the lignite pits at Mataura. Secretary’s Report. The secretary (Mr Charles Campbell) submitted the following report:— The position of the various funds at May 31 was as follows:—

Suggestions from Staff. The secretary put before the meeting the following suggestions submitted by Mr Harland, a member of the office staff: “I respectfully beg to suggest that

the board approach th® various local bodies affected with a view to having suitable street lighting systems installed in the larger townships in the board’s area, wrote Mr Harland. "Street lights have been installed in the following townships for some years and the revenue received last year is as follows:—

“It is suggested that the board offer’ to give advice relative to the manner in which the townships could be adequately lighted and also quote for the work. Street lighting in the country towns has always appeared to the writer to be equally essential as in the larger towns, as in most cases the residents do not have the convenience of well-formed footpaths. Trains and buses arriving from Invercargill invariably arrive after dark in the winter, and the bopn of having lights would soon become apparent to the residents. “I estimate that if the following towns were lighted the board would receive an additional revenue of at least £3OO a year. Suggested townships for consideration:—South Invercargill (inner area, particularly from the terminus to the new hospital), Waipahi, Kelso, Heriot, Waima.iaka, Tokonui, Fortrose, Glenham, Kennington, Woodlands, Woodend, Greenhills, Clifton, Waikiwi, Makarewa, Browns, Wallacetown, Waianiwa, Thombury, Dipton, Mossburn and Orepuki. Lighting Flag Stations. “It is respectfully suggested that some consideration be given to the possibility of lighting railway flagstations while trains are at the platforms. My idea is that the lights could be controlled in a manner similar to the way in which automatic signals are operated. The switching device on the rails could be set to switch on the lights when the train is some distance from the platform, and switch them off again after the train leaves the station. A time switch would be required in addition to control the hours during which the mechanism would operate. No meter would be required as a flat rate of perhaps £1 a light could be made. No meter reading would be necessary and the whole of the charges could be made annually on one account. Providing the cost of installation was reasonable this appears to me as a scheme which the Railway Department may consider as apart from the convenience to the public; it would be of assistance to the train crew for shunting, etc.” Members commented favourably on the suggestions and decided to make representations to the bodies concerned with a view to securing their adoption.

It was also decided to commend Mr Harland for his suggestions.

£ Cr. £ Cr. Power Fund account, Invercargill 8173 6031 Power Fund account, Fixed deposits —... ■ 17000 Power Fund account, London 58 41 Power Fund No. 4: Inver Savings Bank 257 279 Power Fund, Mataura, Bank of N.Z. 178 13 Power Fund No 3: 6982 5505 ” Fixed Deposits, G.S. Bank 2000 ” Fixed Deposits, N.B. of N.Z. 69000 69000 Power Fund No. 2: 1177 1058 Capital Expenditure Account 405(dr) 427 Group Assurance Commission 5 5 The improvement in the 85425 101364 cash available at May 31: 15939 £101364 £101364

No of RevAv. rev. Township Lights enue per light Balfour 4 11 18 0 2 19 6 Riversdale 3 12 16 6 4 5 6 Mandeville 1 4 0 0 4 0 0 Freshford 1 4 4 0 4 4. 0 Waikaia 3 13 16 3 4 12 1 Waikaka 4 16 18 3 4 4 7 Pukerau 3 6 14 2 2 4 9 Ohai 13 29 14 0 2 5 8 32 £100 1 2 £3 2 6