HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17384, 21 April 1928, Page 3

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

CAMBRIDGE BOARD. THE MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Cambridge Power Board was held yesterday, when there were presenf Messrs M. Wells (chairman), J. S. Fisher, .7. T. Entwisle, T. Hicks and F. Lye. The secretary (Mr F. M. Oliver) and engineer (Mr H. G. Oaten) were also in attendance. The Electric Supply Authority Engineers' Association wrote notifying a conference of engineers to be held in Wellington in June inviting the Board's engineer to attend. It was agreed that the engineer attend. The engineer reported that in connection with the proposed lighting of Victoria Square he was now experimenting with a 1000 c.p. lamp. It was giving good results and he was confident that the lighting of the Square with floodlights would be a success. It was resolved to write the Borough Council to inspect the floodlight and the engineer was authorised to inspect the lamps for offer at Arapuni. It was agreed that the engineer proceed with the lighting of the Square subject to the approval of the Council and sufficient guarantees being forthcoming. Staff Arrangements.

The staff committee submitted a report on the re-organisation of the outside staff consequent on the resignation of Mr O. Rowe. In connection with the appointment of a cadet Mr Lye said that certain local people had complained to him of the attitude of the Board in selecting ah applicant from outside the Cambridge district. It was claimed that the qualifications of local applicants were quite sufficient to warrant their appointment. It was also stressed that preference should have been given to a local boy.

Mr Hicks: When the committee went into the applications it was found that the qualifications were by no means equal. The chairman said the appointment, had not been hurriedly made. The applications, as is customary, were viewed and narrowed down to three. These had been submitted to the staff and' were then referred back to the committee when the final selection was made.

The chairman moved that the committee's report be adopted. Mr Fisher remarked that there can be no sentiment in business. The chairman said there was an aspect of local appointments which hs felt he ought now to mention. It was invariably the attitude of members of local bodies in Cambridge not to let their children apply for local body positions even though they were eligible. He did not think members should be so handicapped. It was a very wrong attitude. Such an attitude did not apply in the bigger cities. Mr Fisher: It might apply in Cambridge, but it does not in other parts of the Waikato.

Mr Lye agreed with the chairman that it appeared to be an unwritten law in the Cambridge district. On being seconded by Mr Entwisle the committee's report was adopted.

TE AWAMUTU BOARD. THE MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board was held yesterday, when the chairman (Mr J. T. Johnson) presided and there were also present:—Messrs J. G. Sutherland, A. L. Storey, J. Monteilore, J. B. Teasdale, S. C. Macky and G. Spinley. The secretary-manager (Mr D. McArthur) was also in attendance.

The Government Statistician advised that the 1928 local authorities' handbook is being compiled, and he asked if the board desired to purchase extra copies.—lt was decided to order two extra copies.

Respectng a claim made by the board for short dejivery on an order for tallow wood poles Millar's West Australian Hardwoods Company, Ltd., denied liability, and pointed out that they hold a receipt from the Railway Department for the full number of 150 pieces-. Goods in transit are at purchaser's risk, and any claim for short delivery must be against the railway authorities. The secretary reported that four firms tendered for supplying 329 ironbark poles and that of F. H. Claxton, Thames, at £1055 8s 9d was accepted. Mr Monteflore again raised the question of using concrete poles. He added that he was convinced the policy would eventually be the most economical.

The chairman stated he had no prejudice against concrete poles. By the time Waitomo had been carrying on some four or five years they would be in a better position to judge their worth. There had been advice given by the engineers, and all were against trie use of concrete poles. He, himself, was watching the result of the Waitomo Board's experiment closely. Mr Spinley thought it would be just as cheap to put in a concrete pole as to put in a wooden pole with a concrete base.

Mr Monteflore said that ferroconcrete is coming into general use, and he thought it must be given a trial.

Mr Spinley suggested that if the Harapepe extension is gone on with they .might be able to experiment with concrele poles Ihere, as long as there was shingle handy. The secretary pointed out that the question of the necessary plant would make it fairly expensive. Mr Monteflore pointed out that all the money spent on concrete poles would be spent in the Dominion. At present, the money for the poles was going to Australia. 11, was decided to obtain the cost of making the different sizes of concrete poles, and bring it the board at its next meeting. South Auckland Association. The Central Board's secretary forwarded a copy of a letter received from the Waitomo Board suggesting a meeting of the South Auckland Association with a view to united effort being made to get an assurance from the Government that all Requirements' of each board will be met.—lt was decided to support this, and refer the matter of the three-party agreement to it.

The chief electrical engineer, Public Works Department, drew attention to the necessity of an early inspection of all motor garages in the area to see that no defective or dangerous 'apparatus is in use. He also drew attention to the necessity of reinspection of all installations and suggested that an effort should first be made to concentrate on inspecting hotels, garages, theatres and other places frequented by the public.

A circular letter from the Electric Supply Authority Engineers' Associa-

tion pointed out the advantages of affiliation, and urged that the board's ongineer be allowed to attend the conference in Wellington during June.

The secretary, New Zealand Federated Ironworker*' Association sent a circular letter urging on the Government, municipal and other local bodies the necessity of purchasing in the Dominion all supplies and machinery which can be obtained locally.— It was decided to reply that the board made a practice of doing this wheroevcr possible.

Power Fop Harapepe. A Harapepe farmer wrote asking for power supply, and added that if the district is canvassed a sufficient number of consumers would be obtained to warrant extending the present power lines near To Itore Bridge for the necessary two or three miles. He agreed to canvass, if the necessary information was supplied. The chairman pointed out thoy would require a petition, but if they could guarantee the necessary revenue the board would be willing to extend its lines to take in these settlers. It was decided to recommend th? eettlers to call a meeting, when the board could be represented to explain matters.

The secretary-manager, Taunnga Power Board, wrote asking for copies of the quarterly meter accounts for the past 12 months of three consumers who have lighting and a heating point in the house, and who milk herds of 40, 60, and 80 cows. The information is required for comparison purposes.

The secretary reported that recently the engineer of th? Central Hawke's Bay Power Board visited Te Awamutu to inquire ♦lto the use and benefits of static condensers. He had been supplied with all particular.-:, and expressed great surprise at the results obtained.

The secretary-manager cf the Thames Valley Board forwarded a draft of the decisions arrived at in the recent conference with the chief electrical engineer at Wellington in regard to the position of boards supplying power in bulk to dairy factories and other large consumers. The chairman detailed the causes that led up to this conference, and also the decisions arrived at. The result would affect their board to some extent, but would be offset in some respect l?y allowances made. The agreement has not been definitely arranged. It was decided to approve the agreement. Mr Monteflore brought up the question of the price the board charged for stoves. He though it would be to the board's interests to supply these stoves at wholesale prices. The manager pointed out that all their stoves were on consignment, and prices were fixed.

The revenue for sales of current in February was shown to be as follows: —General lighting, healing and meter rents, £1023 Is lid; power, £1446 12s 3d; penalties and sundries, £43 15s 6d; streets, £36; making a total of £2549 9s Bd, as against £2321 5s lOd, for same month last year.

Accounts totalling £2337 18s were passed for payment.

The Consumers' Finance Fund showed a credit-balance of £698 lis Id.

ASHBURTON LOAN PROPOSAL. REJECTED BY RATEPAYERS. (3y Telegraph—Prods Association.} ASHBURTON, Friday. The ratepayers rejected a proposal by the Power Board to raise a loan of £90,000, allocated as follows: — £70,000 for strengthening reticulation, £IO,OOO for the installation of equipment for consumers, and £IO,OOO for the purchase of equipment for sale or lease to consumers. Of 5142 names on the combined borough and county roll, only 1595 voted, as follows: —For the proposal, 884; against, 697. > As a Ihree-flfths majority was required, the proposal was lost by 65 votes.