POWER FOR OPUNAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1928, Page 5

POWER FOR OPUNAKE

OPERATION OF THE SCHEME MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD REPORTS FROM THE OFFICERS. The. monthly meeting of the Opunake Electric-power Board was held yesterday, when there were present Messrs G. Goodwin (chairman), W. L. F. Chambers, J. P. Burton, C. O. Edmonds, J. Hickey, E. A. Collins and J. S. TO3land. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr. C. O. Edmonds, who had been elected to the board at the recent election, and expressed the hope that the same cordial relations would continue. He expressed gratification at the re-election of Mr. J. P. Burton at the top of the poll, this, he considered, showing that ratepayers had confidence in the board. The resident engineer, Mr. T. B. Morson, reported that the station has operated continuously and efficiently, maintenance being practically nil. The total number of units generated was 125,960, compared with 116,000 for the corresponding month last year. The highest, demand recorded was 370 kilowatts as against 340 kilowatts in September, 1927. Owing to the lake level fluctuating a good deal, it was necessary to shut the station down upon two occasions at midnight until 4.30 a.m., energy being drawn from the New Plymouth supply. Alterations to the flashboards at the weir had been completed, and it was possible to maintain a high level in the lake,. recent rains having considerably augmented the stre. m flow.

The violent storms experienced during the month had caused considerable interruption to the supply, and the staff had’been hard put to maintain a reasonable service. Lightning storms had been most severe and had made their presence felt, particularly in the outer area. Insulators and cross-arms had been shattered and in one instance a five k.v.a. transformer was destroyed. By supplying suitable lightning arrester equipment at various points of the distribution, a good deal could be done to safeguard against a recurrence of these troubles. It was therefore the engineer’s intention to introduce a number of these protective equipments as early as practicable. For a period of two weeks two linesmen had been commencing work at midnight and continuing until 4.30 a.m. changing insulators on the worst sections of the reticulation and erecting the new type of primary fuse gear where necessary. This work had to be .discontinued owing to the meter reading. STONY RIVER SUB-STATION.

Construction work had been commenced on the erection of the new 150 k.v.a. 11,000/6600-volt sub-station at the Stony River and should be completed by the end of the present month. The voltage regulator to be used in conjunction with this sub-station had arrived and was being tried preparatory to being put into service. The New Plymouth borough electrical engineer had advised that his staff was engaged m making the necessary line alterations prior to the system voltage being raised to 11,000. It was anticipated that the alterations would be completed before a dry spell. Permits had been issued for eighteen lighting points, two heating points, three water heaters, two 2 h.p. and one J h.p, motors. The secretary, Mr. J. N. Stephenson, reported that "the revenue for August was: Light, £6'35 3s 6d; general power, £ 190 12s 4d; milking pow’er, £179 Is 3d; water heaters, £34 17s Gd; stoves, £l9O 4s 9d; penalties, £l5 18s 2d; street lights, £l2 6s Bd—total, £1157 19s 2d.

For July and August the revenue was £1383, against £lOBB for the two corresponding months last year. These figures were very satisfactory. Last year’s revenue was made up as follows:—-Light and heat, £4048; milking power, £3502; industrial, £1551; stoves, £619; water heaters, £430; street lights, £144; penalties, £l3B. Despite the large number of milking motors and factories connected to the system, lighting and heating still returned the largest revenue. Tree planting was completed satisfactorily and despite the very severe weather" conditions during the past month the trees had a healthy appearance, and indications pointed to a good strike. The whole of the north and eastern banks of the lake, a small corner at the western end of the embankment, and around the unfeneed sides of the section opposite the hospital had been planted. During last summer trouble was experienced through sticks and rubbish being put into the lake, with consequent obstruction to the intake tunnel, and although the entrance had been fenced, the secretary suggested that a warning notice should be erected at the entrance by the shed and proceedings be taken immediately against any person who disregarded the notice. The board should also enforce registration and licensing of all boats placed on the lake. A license fee of £1 Is was fixed some time ago and one boat had been registered. The board decided to increase its cover under the public risks policy to the full extent of possible liability.

To draft a remit for submission to the next power boards’ conference with the object of securing some national scheme of public risk rover, a committee comprising the chairman, Mr. Edmonds and the secretary was appointed. Gratification was expressed by members at the manner in which consumers and postal officials were co-operating in advising the board immediately of any faults, thus enabling steps to be taken at once to rectify them.