ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14133, 12 February 1910, Page 4

ELECTRIC LIGHT DEPARTMENT.

REPORT ON STAFF.

Acting on instructions from the Borough Council, Mr. H. Black, clectnfcnl engineer, has prepared a report regarding the staff of his department. He states that it consists of engineer ana manager (here styled tho electrical engineer), power-house engineer, and two assistants, lineman and assistant, clerk, 1 and junior, making a total of eight. After giving details of the duties of tho power-house staff, the lineman and clerk and junior, the report continues. With recent changes in the office stair work is very much behind, and it will be necessary to get extra clerical assistance if the annual returns arc to bo ready within reasonable time. U hcn Mr. Dixon was hero wo had everything in this way fairly forward, but owing to his leaving I have not been able to have the usual quarterly returns made out. With over 500 connections to our lines, and extensions to Fitzroy, Vogoltown, and Breakwater there has necessarily been a very considerable increase in tho work of this department, yet tho only increase in the staff in town since supply commenced is an assistant lineman. Wo require a smart electrical assistant to assist with testing of meters, transformers, consume!s installations, and to attend to street lighting repairs, examination of motors and consumers’ troubles when fuses, lamps, or fittings tail or giro trouble. Hours of duty should be arranged that he would he available during evening hours, so that consumers wants could he attended at once. No one is now on duty in town after 5 p.m., although this is the time we have most urgent calls. An assistant for this, work would rohoyo tlio lineman, give him more time ior tho lines, and save employing extra, help for lines. A suitable man should bo obtainable for about £3 per week. We have no ono to do any drawing, and in consequence we have no' plans of wires in town./ Three years ago I advised that a plan, one chain to tho inch, bo obtained, and all connections and lines recorded thereon, but this did not meet with tho approval of tho council at that time, and the work lias not been done. I procured some small three chain to tho inch plans, but have not been able to got time to do anything with them, and have no ono else to do the work. All the lino work is entered in tho station hooks, but it is very desirable that a proper plan should bo obtained and all outside work recorded on it. I had hoped originally, if we got a smart clerk who was also used to drawing, that ho might do this os well as the books, but the clerical work lias now so increased that a clerk will, bo kept fully occupied. For the office we now require a competent and reliable bookkeeper, and I do not think tho salary offered sufficient to induce a competent man to take up the work, considering that there is little prospect of advancement, however efficient he may prove. I have not found it at all times satisfactory to have a clerk in-my office, so have arranged for him to_ uso the switchboard room. It would bo better if he could have a separate office, but there is no room in the present station for that. While 1 have defined the duties of tho various members of the staff as above,- it is clearly understood that anyone may be 'called on at any- time, pight or day, to do in case of emergency any work required, and-I have pleasure in stating that on every occasion when wo have had trouble with overhead lines during gales everyone has worked well and without a murmur.* I have hot said anything about my own work, as anyone who will take note of tho work that has been done and is being done by this department' will realise that I will always have ample to do. I rarely find a day long enough-to do half the work that: I would like to do. The success of the installation should speak,for itself. Now Plymouth has the reputation of being one of the most successful stations, and I trust that I am entitled to some credit for this, and I would like to take this opportunity of reminding tho council that I have now been in Now Plymouth over five years, and although the work has increased and.l have acted as consultant in all matters electrical, and have also carried ont all extensions to plant and overhead lines, work quite beyond tho scope of my original engagement, I have only received ono small'increase-in salary. This department is now_ in a satisfactory financial position, and I trust that yon will see your way_ to grant a substantial increase. With ■tho exception of a few days two years ago, I have not had a holiday since I eamo here, and owing to long hours of work 1 am now feeling tho need of ono. If satisfactory arrangements arc made in regard to clerical work, I should be able to get away after tho returns for the year ending March 31 are made up, and I trust that you will then grant the necessary leave. Consideration of the report has boon deferred.

THAT j feeling, so prevalent in-tho hot weather, which makes ono tired of life and work, is becoming more common every year. Many attribute this to tho climate ; and, in fact, the climate is responsible —very slightly, however. If yon feel WEARY and lack energy, you may rest assured that your blood is 7 thin, weak (ind impure ; if it were rich and pure it woudl , impart vitality and energy to every i nerve and organ in the body, and' the | whole system would bo robust and | healthy. When the system is run down ’ from weakness of the blood, you beconio tired and WORN-OUT and you arc only able to do a very slight amount of work without feeling great fatigue. You have a constant desiro to lib down, and at the end of the day feel utterly worn-out and dispirited. You may, by force of will, overcome that worn-out FEELING for a time, hut this course acts on tho nerves, and results eventually in “nervous prostration.” The blood only becomes impure when tho stomach, liver, and . bowels arc not in good working order, and the digestion is poor. The liver fails to perform k-s functions in cleansing tho blood, and the system becomes “run down.” 1 BILE BEANS j are the best remedy fpr complaints of I this sort. They, enable tho stomach to i do its ■ work quickly and thoroughly, i help' tho liver to help itself, and i do away with constipation and indigestion.* Rich blood is tho result, and with a stream of red, pure blood flowing through your veins you will bo froo from disease, and lack of energy will be a tiling of the past. For a general toning up of tho system, there is nothing like Bile Beaiis for Biliousness. They put things in order, so that Nature can do her work, which is all thatis required