POWER LINES TO KAWHIA

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 73, Issue 6283, 20 September 1946, Page 5

POWER LINES TO KAWHIA

SUPPLY PROBLEMS AND CONSTRUCTION PLANNING REPORT TO POWER BOARD The report asked for by Colonel Matson at the previous meeting of Te Awamutu .Electric Power Board was submitted by the engineer (Mr E. Bryant) at the Board’s meeting last Wednesday. The report read:—■ In accordance with instructions I herewith report as follows: In regard to the date of completion of this line it is impossible to give an exact date as many factors are uncertain, such as delays in deliveries of necessary stores, labour problems, and camp and other necessary equipment. For example:— 1. Inquiry was made many months ago for the purchase of huts for camps, but none has been procurable to date. 2. Cross-arm timber has been on order for months, and all we have received is the account for same, and then for only a small quota. 3. Transformer deliveries are uncertain as importation is prohibited for small sizes and local manufacturers have no stalloy necessary for construction of this line. Present information indicates another twelve months before delivery can be made for those we placed on order about six months ago. 4. It is impossible to secure experienced linemen, and we are training men for this work, and that

must of necessity slow down the » work. More of this latter type cannot be trained as we have too few experienced men to teach them. 5. I anticipate the Board expects the usual work in the present area to be carried out. From the foregoing remarks you can see an accurate date for the completion of the erection of this line is impossible. I hope to have the borough section completed before next meeting, and the section between Pirongia bridge and Cairns’ Road corner by November, w’hen the Frontier Road line can be changed over to 11,000 volts, and the supply to No. 2 Kawhia Road section, which is now supplied via Kopua, can be given direct fro mi Te Awamutu.

The No. 3 section to top of hill is the most difficult part, being through bush. I estimate this will be comcompleted by next March. The No. 4 section from top of hill to Oparau may take till the end of .Tune, 1947, and the Kawhia section, No. 5, will take till the end of October, 1947. These approximate dates may be varied if more staff can be obtained and the necessary material can be procured earlier than expected. i

As previously stated, this work may be delayed awaiting official permits, especially in view of the road alterations which the Works Department contemplates. Another cause for delay has been due to the fact that the original pegs on the line have decayed and are untraceable, and this has meant a re-survey of the line through the most difficult part; but this has now been completed to the top of the hill (section No. 3), and the plan has been forwarded to Wellington. House; The greater portion of servicing consumers’ faults will be at the Kawhia end of the line, and this, together with the better telephone service at Kawhia, recommends Kawhia as the most suitable site for a faultman’s residence. In addition to the inquiries made, together with Board members on 9th instant, I have obtained information on another property. The owner is prepared to discuss business with a view to purchase or lease, iln addition, part of the residence may also be used as an inquiry office and for payment of accounts and for any other purpose of the Board. Pole Site; Satisfactory arrangements were made with the owner of the section adjacent to the Kawhia wharf to lease the section for one year on condition that the Board pays the rates. Communication; I recomimend that inquiries, be made re the cost of the purchase of radio communication equipment. In my original report and estimate J allowed a sum for this purpose. I understand that the Post and Telegraph Department will now permit this system of communication, and suitable equipment is available by the War Assets Realisation Board in Wellington. Transport of Poles: Preliminary inquiries were made for transport of poles on a mileage basis. Oparau Dairy Company Plant; In my opinion there is of value to this Board in any of the plant or equipment, principally due to its small capacity and age of the reticulation. Mr J. T. Johnson (chairman of the Board) formally moved that the report be received. To a question, the manager stated that no information had been gained since the original survey as to the ' number of probable consumers in the | Kawhia area. Mr Macky suggested that the application for huts be taken up personally with the Minister of Works at the first opportunity. Colonel Matson said in terms of earlier estimates he had suggested to the affected district that supply would reach Kawhia by the end of 1946; but now it seemed it would be a year later. As to the location of staff personnel, he noted the recommendation to centre upon Kawhia. There was, however, a strong district movement to centre upon Oparau. As to the servicing arrangement, the Board would require to take into account the fact that Oparau would be the main point from which reticulation would run. There would be lines from Oparau on to Kawhia as well as to Moerangi and other district areas; therefore, instead of placing the Board’s service at the end of the run at Kawhia, it would appear to be advisable to seriously consider , the main distribution point at Oparau. As to communication, Colonel Matson said he could not follow the recommendation preference for Ka-

whia. The telephone exchange was at Kawhia, but the telephone lines ran back many miles in different directions.

To the engineer, Colonel Matson said the communication to Oparau would probably be on a party line. To this the engineer explained the need of an individual telephone for this type of service. On occasions many staff messages were of a confidential nature. Colonel Matson added that as a feature of the movement he had referred to, action was being taken in an endeavour to transfer the telephone exchange from Kawhia to Opa-. rau.

To Colonel Matson’s first question, the manager gave the figures of the probable number and distribution of consumers as revealed by the original estimate, »

Fear’s to Ngutunui School (7.8 miles): Lighting 28, eow-sheds 21, stoves 1, boilers 22.

Ngutunui School to Pirongia West Road (6.2 miles): 6,3, 0, 3. Pirongia West Road to Oparau (9.8 miles); 26, 18, 0, 18. Oparau to Kawhia, not including town (8 miles): 21, 6,0, 6.

Oparau township (.5 miles). 12, 0,

- Kawhia township (2 miles); *l3O, 1,3, 4.

Pirongia West Road to Te Rau-a-Moa (3.4 miles). 6,6, 1, 7. Te Rau-a-Moa (3 miles): 17, 15, 0, 15.

Totals. 247 lighting, 70 cow-sheds, 6 stoves, 76 boilers. '*lncludes street lights. No water-pumps taken into account. No shearing plants taken into account.

Colonel Matson said the above figures assumed that there would not likely be an increase in the district use of electricity to centre ultimately more upon Oparau.

The engineer said all inquiry had indicated that the greater purpose would be served by placing the service at Kawhia.

Colonel Matson still contended that if a long-range view were taken it would be preferable for the Board to acquire a section and build premises at Oparau. The engineer gave a resume of the likely number of calls for servicing from the different districts, basing on the number of consumers and the experience in the present serviced districts.

To Mr Hall, the engineer said little trouble was likely to be experienced in maintaining the lines through the bush during the first few years,- second growth, however, would have to be watched.

Colonel Matson minimised the likelihood of trouble in that regard as the settlers’ cattle were usually so hungry that they would keep the line cleared. (Laughter.) Mr Macky considered the position at Oparau should be carefully considered. The Board had to assure service in the rural areas and for production purposes. To Mr Hall, the engineer said the transformer supply position was very difficult. He had been in regular contact with manufacturers and importers, and all the available information suggested a delay of another twelve months before the requirements could be satisfied. Another problem was that on the western side of the ranges the air would carry a salt spray. For that reason a particular type of insulator had to be awaited. He was using his best endeavours to locate and secure the necessary supply.

To Colonel Matson the engineer explained that for the general purposes of the Board the time had arrived for some better method of communication between the depot and the faultmen when out in the back districts. For instance, a faultman in a back district could be diverted quickly as a need arose to another adjacent locality at short notice if a mode of communication existed. The radio call service proposed might cost a few hundred pounds, but its use would be fully justified. Mr Hall suggested the need for better means of handling and hoisting heavy poles. The engineer recalled an Australlian demonstraton when a pole hoist had erected a pole in 28 seconds. .That would be very useful on flat country, but on the hills different conditions would be experienced. The chairman said the main purpose of the report was to indicate when the Kawhia line would be completed. The report did disclose some of the difficulties that were standing in the way. All that could be asked was that the engineer note the desire of the Board that the lines be carried through at the very earliest possible date, and he could npte, also, that it was the*-Board’s direction that every possible effort be made. The information was less satisfactory than might have been hoped for, but there could at least be an assurance to the districts that had waited so long through the years of war that they were not forgotten, and that as quickly as circumstances allowed the power services were being pushed to completion. The chairman formally moved that the report be received, and this was agreed to.