POWER BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 22813, 12 February 1936, Page 4

POWER BOARD

MEETING OF MEMBERS ENGINEER’S REPORT The Southland Electric Power Board met yesterday. Mr William Hinchey (chairman) presided over the following members: Messrs W. J. McKenzie, E. K. Sim, A. le H. Hoyles, T. Golden, S. Rice, W. M. Norman, G. Wraytt, D. J. Heenan, A. McKenzie, W. McChesney, and J. T. Carswell. The chief engineer, Mr L. B. Hutton, reported as follows on the operations of the board for the month of January: Power Station.—The total units generated were 2,664,700. This was very high for January, and was due in a large measure to the dry conditions up country. On Tuesday, 21st, the half hour’s peak was 6500k.w. and there was a load of 6450k.w. for an hour on the same date. The rainfall was 4.41 inches the lake discharge 412 cusecs, and the power consumption 371 cusecs. The lake level stands at 9ft 2in. Winton Area.—Work proper resumed on the 13th, most of the men being on holiday up till that date. A start was made on the second section of the Winten reconstruction, the party being assisted by a smal’ gang from Invercargill. Four streets were completed by the 22nd. Two transformer changes were made at Pikopiko and Pul<emaori and 7/14 wire was salvaged. At Winton, several of the reconditioned lamps have been re-erected, and the new holophane fittings for the main street are in course of erection. On the 22nd and 23rd heavy thunderstorms were experienced, coming from the north towards Winton. A large number of high tens'on fuses were blown, and there appeared to be two strokes to the transmission line. The first of these took place at Duneam and brought Monowai out; the second took place at the railway crossing at Gap Road and brought out the Gore branch circuit breaker pt Winton. The storm also broke down the cable pothead on No. 5 feeder panel, and supply had to be diverted through the by-pass st™o- - Later on, this also gave trouble, an arc travelling from one fuse to another, and being reflected back to the 66,000-volt fuses. Invercargill Area.—Five service lines were erected, and a transformer put in place at Waikawa to supply a new range. From the 13th to the, 23rd the gang worked at Winton, assisting in the town reticulation. At Morton Mains a pole was moved at the request of the county and a start made with the deviation of three-quarters of a mile of 11,000-volt line near Mabel Bush, this being considered cheaper and more satisfactory than the cutting of the trees. Several line alterations were made at Otaitai Bush and Rakauhauka, and surplus wire removed at Dacre. A new motor was supplied at Mokotua. Gore Area.—Lightning affected this area as well as Winton on the 22nd and 23rd. The first of these, as reported earlier, cut off the 66.000-volt line from Winton. Supply was maintained through the 11,000-volt tie line. On the 23rd what appears to have been a direct strike took place in the substation yard, and damaged the main incoming 11,000-volt panel. Supply ' <, ’ as interrupted for 11 minutes until the spare cable and panel could be brought into use. The construction party resumed work on the 10th, ran several service lines, and re-arranged a transformer group at Waimumu. In the Gore Borough, two 3300-volt airbreak switches were replaced, and an inspection made of the main transformer bank and accessories. Panel wiring at the sub-station was repaired. In the Edendale district, service lines were reconditioned and trees cut. House Wiring.—Seventy new consumers were secured during the month, which brings the total up to 10,652. Twenty-seven installations were connected and 129 extensions made to old jobs. Two ranges and 32 motors were added. The total additional connected load was 107k.w. Reinspections numbered 173, and the total of this work now stands at 8236.