WORKS PROGRESS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4234, 22 January 1940, Page 8

WORKS PROGRESS

TE AWAMUTU POWER BQARD INSPECTOR’S AND ENGINEER’S REPORTS The following reports by the inspector, Mr A. J. Tailby, and works foreman, Mr E. Bryant, were presented at the monthly meeting of the Te Awamuitu Power Board on Friday.’ FOREMAN’S REPORT I have the honour to sulbnut the following report of work carried out, during the past month:— Poles: Sixty-five poles were carted and sixty-three were erected, of which fifty-one were used on construction and twelve were for maintenance. Lines: Three hundred and. thirtytwo chains of wires were erected. The Pirongia West extension is almost completed and will be livened up during the coming week. A survey was made of an 11,000 volt extension at Kaniwhaniwha for the Raglan Qounty quarry and approval has been obtained for the erection. This line is now being erected and vrtill be completed about Tuesday. Urgent maintenance work on lines was carried out where required. Transformers: A 10 K.V.A. transformer at Hairini wls damaged by lightning on 26th ult., and was replaced with a2O K.V.A. The damaged transformed has been dismantled for repairs to be made. A 75 K.V.A. transformer has been overhauled for the quarry extension. Three hundred and sixty gallons of oil were dehydrated. Static Condensers: Two static condensers were reconnected at Kaipaki. Power Supply: The peak load for the October-December quarter remained the same as reported last month. The peak load to date for present quarter is 2037.6 K.V.A. at .909 P.F. Street Lighting: Three street lambs at borough, one at Te Kawa and one at Kihikihi were replaced. The Mercury Vapour lamps received attention prior to the holidays. The festoon decorative streamers were (erected for the holiday period and these were dismantled on Bth inst. Community Lighting: Three community lights were dismantled at Advance Cars and a 400 watt Mercury Vapour light was installed. Three Community lights were connected at Hutson’s Building. Service Lines: Fourteen service lines were erected and a number were altered or overhauled. Eighteen service lines were disconnected and seven were reconnected. General: The usual fault work has been carried out and trees were trimmed where required. Transport: The vehicles travelled 5,276 miles during the month. The Fargo truck was received from the body builder and is now in commission. The fittings on the body are not yet (completed. INSPECTOR’S REPORT During the period since last meeting the following installations and extensions have been tested arid inspected: — Lighting plants 9, cow-plant motors 2, separator motors 0, other power plants 1, waterpump motors 16, washing machines 6, shearing plants 1, electric stoves 7, electric waterheaters 10; total for month 52. With the above new connections and after allowing for disconnections temporary or otherwise the figures at this date are as follows: Lighting plants 2531, cow-plant motors 867, separators motors 445, /other power plants 101, waterpump motors 725, washing machines 221, shearing plants 92, elelctric stoves 746, electric waterheaters 1242; grand total 6970. Also tested and inspected extensions on 24 lighting plants, representing an increase of 42 lighting points and 19 heating points, 2 cow-plants and 1 waterpump. Total number of extensions to date, 3627. Also tested and inspected alterations on 5 cow-plants, 3 pump motors, 3 lighting plants, 2 shearing plants and 1 electric range. Installed 49 meters, tested 51, changed 2, disconnected 4, reconnected 1 and removed 1. Attended to 60 enquiries, made up specifications fbr 3 water-heaters, inspected 7 refrigerators, total number of refrigerators inspected 185, inspected 28 radio sets, total number of radio sets inspected I'oB2. Re-inspections: During the month the following reinspections have been made.—Lighting plants 34, other power plants 4, washing 6. electric stoves 7, waterheaters 24, cow-plants 31, waterpumps 15, shearing plants 3 and separator motors 14; total of 139. Also 28 radio sets and 7 refrigerators. Thirty installations on which reinspection faults have been attended to were rechecked and recorded. During the month 2 time-clocks were adjusted and 1 new clock was supplied and installed. Special tests were taken on 6 installations. Fiftyseven reinspection notices have been sent out, making a total sent out to date of 170*0. All applications for service lines have been checked and permits 'issued.

Storm Damage: Since Mr Bryant’s report was made up the district was swept by a severe storm during last week-end. From the damage which took place it is quite evident that trees adjacent to the lines are our main source of trouble. In six places in particular considerable trouble was caused by trees which temporarily isolated whole districts. During the storm and in the cleaning up afterwards the Board’s staff attended to 81 faults. Electrical Accident: On the 3rd of January an electrical accident occurred iin the Pukeatua district due to wrongful interference with a portable lead supplying a shearing machine. Th© operator received a severe burn in the palm of his hand and had to be released by other persons. This has been reported to the Public Works Department in accordance with regulations. I regret to have to report that unauthorised and dangerous interference with electrical leads is becoming rather common and I would be glad if the board would still further make public the dangers of this offence or authorise prosecutions.