HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15357, 4 October 1923, Page 6

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

THAMES VALLEY BOARD? The October meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board took place a) Te Aroha on Tuesday, there being present: Messrs F. E. Piatt (In the chair), C. A. Arthur, F. M. Strange, J. P.. Thomas, J. W. Anderson, J. Price, J. W. McCormick, J. Pohlen, G. Howie, W. E. G. Willey, and P. Grace. The town clerk, Paeroa, asked for a grant for the Paeroa Fire Brigade—. Declined.

Messrs Cory, Wright, and Salmon wrote expressing regret that their quotation for Parkinson motors had not been accepted, and asking for some information regarding prices in competition. The firm also lodsed a mild protest against the policy of the Board in accepting a foreign motor when British manufacturers -were doing their best to supply a good machine at the lowest possible price.—The manager reported that the firm had been informed that the members of the Board conducted their own policy and were not in the habit of going outside their executive for information in regard to price and quality. The Government Life Insurance Department advised that it had funds available for loans to Electric Power Boards!—Bcceived. The Government Life Insurance Department advised that it had funds available for loans to Electric Power Boards.—Beceivcd.

The Australian Mutual Provident Society advised that the Board was committed to take the first instalment of £IO,OOO of the £75,000 on Ist October. —Beceived.

The Norfolk Dairy Company, Motumaoho, wrote enquiring when the electric power was to be installed, as lighting was -urgently required for the night shift. —Power to be available in a fortnight. Jas. Stewart, of the Department of Agriculture, Auckland, enquired if electric power would be available in the Patctonga district sufficient to drive one or two flax strippers.' The Board was also asked to supply the cost of the motor and installation of same.— Information to bo supplied.

Supply of Electricity.

The district engineer of the Public Works Department, electrical branch, wrote enclosing copies of the agreement between the Board and the Department, covering the supply of electricity at its third point of supply at the Waihou sub-station.

Tenderer's Clause.

The Southland Electric Power Board asked if the local Power Board would advise if it raised any objection, and whether It thought the following clause was fair and reasonable: ; — "Contracts are to be subject to strikes, accidents, and contingencies beyond our control."—Mr Gauvain said the clause was quite reasonable, and the Board agreed to adopt the suggestion.

The Electric Power Boards' Association wrote enclosing copy of a letter from the General Manager of Railways, pointing out that the policy of the Hallway Department has been to charge a lower rate of freight for conveyance of local than imported products, thus enabling railways to be used in the direction of developing the natural resources of the 'Dominion. The letter also pointed out that hardwood timber was much heavier than New Zealand grown, therefore only a smaller quantity could be loaded Into each waggon. As power boards' were not called upon to pay for the full measurement railed, a reduction In the rates for electric poles could not be agreed to. The Matamata County Council requested that the board would issue instructions that the supply account for the council's pumping plant and workshop be made out on a meter basis. — Agreed to. The chief electrical engineer forwarded copy of new Electric Power Boards' Amendment Act, asking for information as to how clause 4 worked out in practice, and stated that in rating under that clause jt would not be necessary to define any restricted area, as the new rate could only be collected when mains were within 10 chains of the property so that the rate could be levied over the whole area and collected only from those to whom a supply was available. —Received.

Accounts,

Accounts totalling £20,966 were passed for payment. "I observe that it is the intention of your board to charge farmers for lighting purposes 50 per ceht. above those farmers who use a motor to run their milking plant," wrote Mr F. W. Howard, Manawaru. "Personally, at the present price of power I have no intention of installing it for milking, and in cancelling his order for the installation of a motor he added: "I do not like this way of rubbing it in. Just because one farmer runs a motor he is to got his house lighted considerably cheaper than his neighbours." Mr Price moved .that the board will supply an area provided the charges of construction for that area are guaranteed by consumers. The provision for future extension will be met by the board. Mr Price remarked that main lines should be capitalised and charged to the whole district, and not to any particular district. —Mr Thomas seconded.

The resolution was carried after a little discussion.

Manager's Report,

The manager, Mr R. Sprague, reported:—Consumers: The number of consumers connected to September 30 was 22G-4, which includes 638 milking motors; 72 milking motors and lighting and heating consumers were connected during September. Transformers: The position regarding these is Very unsatisfactory, owing to bad deliveries. One contract is now three months overdue; and it is impossible to make many more connections until further supplies are received. A shipment is expected in Auckland on October 8. I have now a return from all depots giving the trees that are endangering the lines, and I would suggest that seven days' notice be given all the property owners concerned to remove the clanger. I would like to point out that practically the only stoppages that have occurred have been caused through trees. Waihou sub-station lias now been connected and made alive. This wlil relieve the position very considerably. Satisfactory canvasses have been received from Buckland's road and Campbell's road (Matamata district), and Scott's road, Motumaoho, and School road, Manawaru. The necessary authority for the erection of these lines has been given to the depot foremen. I proceeded against a boy at the Morrinsville Court on the 18th for throwing stones at the board's lines; I could not obtain a conviction owing to the fact of not hitting the insulators or lines. The Magistrate issued a warning, and I would suggest, now that a reward of £5 is being offered for the conviction of any person damaging the property of the board, that the board's employees be entitled also to participate in same. The prosecution of the. person interfering with the board's switchboard will be heard at To Aroha on October 5. It is now possible under the Municipal Corporations Act to

charge any person defrauding the board in this manner with theft. The sum of £3OOO has been paid to the Cambridge Power Board during the month, being an instalment of the amount agreed upon for the exchange of .territory adjacent to. Cambridge. We received the first instalment of £IO,OOO from the A.M.p. Society, which now leaves £65,000 to be lifted.—The report was adopted. Engineer's Report.

The engineers,. Messrs Gauvain and McLeod, issued their September report as follows', which was adopted:— Public Works Department:. The new Government sub-station at Waihou was tested out on Sept. 23, and brought into service on 25th inst. Provision has been made so that in case of a failure of this sub-station a supply can be obtained direct from Hora Hora. Totman's road: A low-tension branch line has been erected down this road, and will be livened up at the end of the month. Matamata-Gordon: The second section from Troughton's transformer has been livened up, and consumers are being supplied as the lowtension line and service lines progress. Okauia: Pole-erecting for a distance of about 4 i miles has now been completed. Some three miles of hightension line and 1 mile of low-tension line have been erected during the month. Tauhei: A mile of low-tension circuit has been wired and a supply commenced. Kereone road: This road has been poled for a distance of four miles, leaving about 3-mile to complete the section authorised. Scott's road: Work is proceeding, and a mile of line has been poled to date. Manawaru: The southern section of Alexandra road is fully reticulated and all settlers are receiving a supply. Steel's road has been poled for a distance of a mile;. Waikino: The poling of the township is practically completed and wiring will commence shortly.