HONIKIWI DISTRICT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 81, Issue 7254, 20 September 1950, Page 8

HONIKIWI DISTRICT

POWER RETICULATION PRELIMINARY STEPS TO BE TAKEN Rough estimates of the costs which would be involved in the reticulation of the Honikiwi district and estimated revenue, were presented in a report to the Te Awamutu Power Board by the engineer, Mr. E. Bryant, yesterday. The report stated that the estimates had been made up from casual observations made when the chairman, two board members, the manager, and himself had inspected the district. He had compiled the mileages from speedometer readings and estimations made from the roadside. No survey of the actual distance or the required power loads had been made, but the estimated total route mileage of the lines for the reticulation would be about 19.3 miles with a possible connection to 36 houses, 14 cow’sheds, and seven woolsheds. The possible pump and other requirements were unknown, but from the information obtained it was thought that the probable revenue would be in the vicinity of £734 per year for an approximate cost of £14,475, which would amount to a 5 per cent, guarantee. Mr. Bryant stated that no doubt the estimated requirements would be increased if a canvass was made of the prospective consumers, although it appeared unlikely that it would reach the required 15 per cent, guarantee required. Revenue required on a cost of £750 per mile would be £2,171, but should the district be the recipient of a subsidy from the Rural Electrical Reticulation Council, the cost would be assessed at £650 per mile when the required guarantee for a 15 per cent, return would be £1853. If the fullest amount of subsidy the reticulation council will grant (71 per cent) is taken away, it would leave the settlers with £926 to guarantee. The estimated revenue at £734 would leave an approximate amount of £2OO per year to be paid by the settlers concerned. Emphasising again that his figures were only based on a casual inspection of the area, Mr. Grant said that he would recommend that the area should be canvassed to see if it was worth while carrying out a survey which would be fairly costly. Mr. Rhodes said that the settlers wanted to be given something definite if they were asked to .sign up guarantees. They would want to know when the reticulation of their area would begin. Mr. Bryant said that it could not be done this year, and more than probably would not be able to be started next year. Therefore, in his estimation, the project could not be started for about two years, because of prioi work and other considerations. The board moved that preliminary steps should be taken for reticulation of the area.