MANAGER’S REPORT

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6596, 7 May 1925, Page 6

MANAGER’S REPORT

The Manager reported as follows: Telephones have now been installed in the assistant engineer’s house at Te Aroha, and the distribution engineer’s house at Morrinsville.

Poles: Owing to the increased rates of freight now operating for delivery by steamer to Auckland, a further charter of the “Louis Theriault” has been made for 1100 poles of assorted sizes. There are ample poles in transit arid in stock until the “Theriault” shipment arrives. On the 23rd April at the Magistrate’s Court, Matamata, two prosecutions for making connections on the flat rate supply without notifying and paying the Boarl for the electricity used, were heard.* Mr Gilchrist, the Board’s solicitor, appeared, and two convictions were recorded, one being fined £5 and costs and the other £3 and costs. I have instructed all the troublemen to make inspecions of installations in their territories, where consumers are known to be fraudulently using electricity on the flat rate supply. This will be an additional inspection.

Mr Goudie, of the State Forestry Department, inspected a property for pole growing purposes, and also discussed costs, etc., with the chairman, engineer and - the writer. Upon receipt of Mr Goudie’s report the Pole Committee will bring the matter before you.’

I have pleasure in advising that the four Borough representatives were returned unopposed. The members were Messrs Claxton, Arthur, Flatt and Howie, representing the Boroughs of Thames, Te Aroha, Paeroa and Morrinsville.

A rather serious accident happened to A. Coomb on the Wardville road on April 25th, at 10.45 a.m. He received burns on his right arm, through coming in contact with a live 400/ 230 volt service line.

There is a special report before you this day regarding the accident, and I would recommend, in order to avoid any repetition, that the inspectors in each district take with them the plugs for making the line alive when testing and inspecting, and the linesmen erect the cutouts without plugs. This

will avoid any possibility of a further accident.

Consumers: The total number of consumers connected to the Board’s mains at 30th April, 1925, is 4840, Which includes the Boroughs of Te Aroha and Thames. FiUy-three lighting and heating consumers, 1 stove, 5 water heaters and two 2-h.p. milking motors were connected on the flat rate, together with one 2-h.p., one 3h.p. and one 30-h.p. motors on meter rates. The number of motors connected and operating on farms is 1215, .of which 1085 are 2-h.p. milking motors. Quite a number of farmers intend installing motors for the next milking season, and I have alvised them that the Board will make the installations at any time, and will not charge for the electricity or the installations until they commence using the motors.