ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14727, 4 August 1921, Page 6

ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

THAMES VALLEY.

ENGINEER'S REPORT.

At the last meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board, the consulting engineers, Messrs Gauvain and McLeod, submitted the following report; — >AEROA BOROUGH. The 400-volt line ou the old Te Aroha Road has been extended from the borough boundary for a distance of about three-quartars of a mile, in order to take on milking-machine load. The Post and Telegraph Department has erected poles from the railway station to Hill Street, along the Puke Road. We are utilising these poles for 400-volt distribution, and our wiring on this section is now completed. An extension has been made in Princes Street to take on a motor load. PAEROA-TE AROHA SECTION. The poling of this section has been completed, and the poles erected right up to the Te Aroha Borough power station. The firing of the 11,000-volt line is completed from the swamp near Paeroa to the Mangaiti Railway Station, this section consisting of a double circuit. Disconnecting switch gear has been erected on one of the poles near Tirohia; this will enable power to be distributed over an extended area, in the event of a failure at either the Waikino or Waihou Government substations. From Mangaiti to the Te Aroha borough, a single 11,000-volt circuit has been rim, and the wiring completed. A start has. been made on the erection of the transformer platforms, in connection with the 400-volt distribution lines between Paeroa and Te Aroha.' w Poles are now being erected along the Stanley Road, from Mangaiti to Bowler's Road, with a view to connecting the Waihou section to the main line.

A wiring gang has started on the reticulation of the Waihou area, and about five miles of 3300-volt line has been wired. In order to expedite work on this section, to arrange for the erection of the 400-volt lines in connection with the main reticulation, and to carry out the work in the most economical manner,- at least two more wiring gangs are required. HORA HORA-MATAMATA . SECTION.

The poling of this section is completed from Hora Hora to within about a mile of the Glaxo factory at Matamata. A wiring; gang has started from the Hora Hora Power Station, and about a mile of 11,000volt double-circuit line has been completed. . The first portion of this line over the hills is'difficult to negotiate, and this, coupled with the fact that the gang is inexperienced, has made progress'rather slow. The worst portion of the line has now been completed, and progress in the future should be more rapid. MATAMATA TOWN. The gang at work ou the wiring of the town has been reduced' in size, in order to provide men.for the wiring gang on the main line from Hora Hora to Matamata, consequently the work has not progressed so rapidly as during the preceding month. Practically the whole of the town east of the. railway is poled, but several streets remain to be done on the western side. ,So far as the work on the Hora Hora section of the Board's area is concerned, we could provide work for two gangs immediately, we have the sanction of the Board. One of these gangs would b-? started on the wiring of the main line, starting from near Hopkins' corner, and the other on the wiring of the Matamata town. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

We have forwarded to the Department 15 drawings, and applied for the following license: Portions of the Hauraki Plains, Ohinemuri, Piako, and Matamata counties, together with the Borough of Morrinsville, and Matamata town.

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

On July 6 we had a conference with the Telegraph Engineer in Auckland, 1 chiefly on the question of joint lines. As a number of power boards will, before long, be in operation, this department is anxious to arrive at some system of standardisation,. and with, this end in view the Telegraph Engineer asked us to submit proposals for the department's consideration. We submitted proposals to the department on July 12, and' now await their decision. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT. We also had an interview with the District Railway Engineer, and settled several points in connection with railway crossings. TE AROHA BOROUGH. On July 7 we met the Te Aroha Borough Electrical Committee in connection with the transmission L'n.. from the borough boundary to the power station, and also the lino on Stanley Road. It was agreed that the line from the borough boundary to the borough power station should be 11,000 volts, single circuit', the Board to pay half the net cost of the

difference on a 11,000-volt and * 3300-volt line.

We have conferred with the Board's solicitor in connection with this agreement between the Board and the borough, and the matter is now in the solicitor's hands. It was decided that the report should be adopted, with the exception of the suggested increase ->of the number of gangs employed. Mr. Thomas wished to k.now why the poling had not been executed as authorised, along the MorrinsvilleWaihou Road.

The engineer stated that th«: lorries had for some time pas'j been laid up.

Mr. Pohlen wished to know what were the outstanding rates to be collected on account of switches installed.

The secretary said that the outstanding rates totalled £1472, none of which was owing in the Matamata district. The Board would not start an installation unless they had first a guarantee of payment on delivery.

Mr. Gauvain explained in detail the proposed basis of the agreement with the New Zealand Dairy Co., and the arrangement that he had effected with the Public Works Department for a definite basis of charging for power.

The Board confirmed Mr. Gauvain's action. '

The agreement with the Te Aroha Borough Council regarding the supply of electric power was approved of in its amended form.

The secretary was instructed to arrange for a renewal of the Board's accident insurance policy.