D.—l.

26 hours 5 minutes, compared with 17 interruptions and 32 hours 8 minutes the previous year and 29 interruptions and 26 hours 58| minutes for the year before that. In all but 3 oases the interruptions to consumers this year from this cause were only momentary, as supply was given over an alternative During the year the usual work of live-line testing of insulators, sap-testing, scrub and tree cutting, and improvements to access were continued. To prevent future trouble a considerable number of " span-breaking " telephone-poles were erected on spans exceeding 9 chains in length. (c) Substations. Penrose (Capacity : 110/22 kv. 60,000 kv.a., 22/50 kv. 5,000 kv.a.).— Switch-gear : Several of the corona shields on 110 kv. 0.C.8.s were found displaced, and all of them were secured in position with stronger screws and lock washers. A 22 kv. potential transformer developed an earth in the H.T. winding, and was replaced with a Synchronous Condenser : The condenser stator broke down on the 15th September. It was repaired and put back into service on the 16th November. On the 15th February it broke down again in a similar way, but at the opposite end. . Bombay (Capacity : 110/50 kv. 5,000 kv.a., 50/11 kv. 3,000 kv.a.).—A 110 kv. condenser bushing on 0 C.B. 12 broke down. A new porcelain shield was fitted to it, and it and other similar bushings were refilled with thinner compound. An 11 kv. cable-box connecting the three-core cable from the switchroom to the three single-core cables at the transformers, on being opened, was found to have voids and water in the compound. The box was dried and made watertight. Matamata (Capacity : 50/11 kv. 2,250 kv.a.).—Alterations were made to prevent creeping of oil from the current-transformer chamber to the bus-bar chamber of the compound-filled switch-gear. Waihou (Capacity : 50/11 kv. 2,250 kv.a.).—A breakdown occurred in an 11 kv. outdoor, vertical type, single-core, cable-sealing box. " Waikino (Capacity : 50/11 kv. 6,000 kv.a.).—A \ in. brass bolt on a5O kv. transformer lead broke and caused an interruption. A mouse caused a flash-over on No. 211 kv. 0.C.8., causing the 50 kv. line 0.C.8. to open. 1 .. Hangatiki (Capacity : 50/11 kv. 750 kv.a.).—Two 50 k.v. transformer bushings were found cracked and were replaced. . , .. Huntly (Capacity : 50/11 kv. 1,500 kv.a.).—Alterations were made to prevent creeping ot oil from the current-transformer chamber to the bus-bar chamber of the compound-filled switch-gear. Ngongotaha (Capacity : 50/6-6 kv. 750 kv.a.).—An additional 6-6 kv. feeder to Rotorua was connected in' by the Tourist Department. Other 50/11 kv. Substations as follows : Takapuna (2,250 kv.a.), Hamilton (3,000 kv.a.), le Awamutu (1,500 kv.a.), Kerepeehi (2,250 kv.a.), Mamaku (150 kv.a.), Edgecumbe (750 kv.a.), Waiotahi (750 kv.a.).—Nothing to report. 5. General. Table VIII herewith—Gross Financial Results of Distribution for the Year—shows that the Department and supply authorities combined made a profit of £45,475, as compared with £12,161 and £4 674 in the two previous years. In the three years 1931, 1932, and 1933 the Department's losses we're £35,694, £40,554, and £43,836, while the profits of the combined local supply authorities were £40,368, £52,715, and £88,850. . The improvement is due largely to the substitution of water-power from Arapum tor power obtained from the various fuel plants in the district, the saving in connection with the Auckland Power Board and King's Wharf plant being in excess of £40,000 per annum, as compared with the increase m total profit above of £36,135. The total revenue from sales of electrical energy to consumers amounted to £1,094,849, and the Department's total revenue amounted to £337,641. The Department's loss of £43,836 is equal to 4 per cent, and 13 per cent, respectively of these amounts, and is equal to a loss of 0-041 d., or about one twenty-fifth of a penny per unit sold, the average revenue per unit sold being 0-315 d. MANGAHAO-WAIKAREMOANA ELECTRIC-POWER SUPPLY. I. Financial Results. At the close of the year 1932-33 the capital outlay amounted to £3,690,475. The net revenue for the year was £313,342, and working-expenses £53,907. After paying interest, totalling £209,776, a net surplus of £49,659 was shown. Depreciation charges amount to £52,645, which is the amount required to bring the reserve up to one-eighth of the value of the assets in operation. The loss on the year's working is £2,986. . The financial results and load records are analysed in Table VIII, whilst Tables IX and X give an analysis of the capital outlay and working-expenses. The gross financial results of the system are given in Table XIL 11. Operation and Maintenance. Mangahao Power-house and Headworks.— This portion of the scheme operated quite satisfactorily throughout the year, the water-level in all the dams being well maintained by an abundant rainfall. This heavy rainfall necessitated considerable expenditure on the maintenance of the access roads in removing slips, &e. At the upper Mangahao Dam the parapet was raised 18 in., so that abnormal floods will flow only over the automatic crests.

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