HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

Waikato Times, Volume 95, Issue 14920, 13 April 1922, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

CENTRAL POWER BOARD MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Central Electric Power Board was held in the board rooms, Hamilton, yesterday, the chairman (Mr T. Hinton) presiding. There were also present Messrs W. Henry, J. McGregor, S. Reid, W. Livingstone, E. F. Peacocke, 11. ,1. Becelie (secretary-manager), and T. R. Overton (electrical engineer). Leave of absence was granted Mr W. Lee Martin. Mr K. L. Aickin, Horsham Downs, wrote that as the electric power line on the Horotiu side of the river was now finished and as Ihe line on the other side of the river was nearing Oordenton, it appeared that the River Road district was to be side-tracked. i lie writer asked the board to give consideration of a line across the river at Horotiu to the Horsham Downs cheese factory, in the region of which there were many settlers who had expressed their willingness U> mkc power. Referred to t.he engineer. The electrical vngineer to the Hamilton Borough Council forwarded a draft of conditions and arrangements whereby persons inside the borough may be supplied by the board and persons outside the borough be supplied by the council.

The meeiing generally was of the opinion that the arrangements proposed were not entirely satisfactory to Ihe board. It was decided Unit Hie chairman, secretary-manager and the engineer be appointed a committee to go into the matter, with power lo act. Mr McGregor brought up the question of many people refusing to have their houses or farms connected up with electric power when the lines went past their properties. He asked was there any Act which would compel them to pay half charges in the same manner as non-consumers of water were charged. Another member remarked that such people were extremely foolish, as electricity was going to benefit the country more so than any other boon which had been conferred upon it.

Mr Henry raised the question of increased salaries to Die secretarymanager and the engineer. There was not a meeting held tiial Mr Beeche had not shown members that lie had been saving ttie board money, while, continued Mr Henry, they all knew Mr Overton’s work was greatly increasing. The chairman endorsed Mr Henry’s remarks.

Mr Livingstone, while readily admitting that the proposed increases were well-deserved, doubted if the present was a suitable time to make them. The matter was finally left in the hands of the finance committee to report to next meeting. The Thames Valley Electric Power Board, in reply lo the board’s circular le 1 ter, wrote that the matter of the Arapuni scheme was a matter which should be taken up by Hie Power Boards’ League. The Thames Valley Board also stated that the scale of wages recommended by the Central Board had been adopted.—Received. The statement of Lhe bank account as at April 11 showed a credit balance of £3330 8s 7d.

Accounts totalling £BOIO Os lOd were passed for payment. Engineer’s Report.

The electrical engineer's report for the rnonlh ended was as follows: —

Matangi District.—The extension of high tension lines from Eureka Avenue towards Newslead and uie construction of low-tension and service lines is now completed. Seven farms have been connected. The high-tension line from Tamahere road lias been started and all arming work has been finished. The erection of this line will commence after Hie Easter holidays. llamillon-Gordonton. —Work on this line is progressing well, and Hie 11,000-volt poles have now been erected pasL the Cordonton factory, and before the end of this week poles wifi be laid on the route as far as Taupiri. Frankton-Te Rapa.—All work, including low-tension and service lines, have been completed as far as Manuwai store.

T’e Rapa-Te Kowhai.—The 11,000volt line, also Ihe low-tension line, lias been erected as far as Dimmer's corner, and only the service lines. now remain to lie done. Dimmer’s Corner to Whatawhata. — Nothing further than running out two miles of wiring lias been done on this Jine since last report.

Dimmer’s Corner-llorotiu.—Wiring of 3000-volt and low-tension lines lias now been completed, and the work of running service lines and connecting farms will commece next week. Rukuhia Line.—-The 11,000/3000 volt sub-station is now being erected, and the work of funning wire will be undertaken immediately the 3-ton lorry is available. District Sub-stations—Sub-stalion at No. 1 bridge to supply the sandsoap works and others in a northerly direction therefrom has been linislicd. A commencement will he made on a similar structure near Kuakura Farm homestead; and also in the vicinity of Mrs Oliver’s frm and Hinton’s gully.

Tenders.—As authorised at last meeting, lenders were invited for copper wire of different sizes. The tender of Tolley and Sons, Wellington, being the lowest, 1 would recommend ils acceptance.

General.—Twenty trucks of poles have been received during the past week, and slacked at Taupiri and Public Works siding, Hunkura. The work connected with off-loading these trucks has drawn the majority of the gangs away from constructional work, a mailer to he regretted during the good weather period. Applications for Power.—-It would be wise for members of the board to impress upon farmers in reticulated districts the advisability of sending in their applications for power for the coming season as soon as possible, so that Ihc service lines may he erected in good weather, thereby lessening cost of same. If this were done 1 would recommend that accounts for such service lines he charged as from August i. The report was adopted.