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Penrose-Boskill Supervisory.—This equipment has been wired up for testing only. Bad factory workmanship, both in wiring and relay adjustment, has impeded the progress of this installation. Telephone cabinets have been installed in the apparatus-room, and partially equipped cables were run and the twenty-line cordless switchboard fitted to the control desk. Some modification has been required to provide for a fifty-line cord switchboard at a later date. Some preliminary investigation has been carried out on the major job of noise correction on the North Auckland line, and trial transposition fitted with good results. At Henderson and Takapuna a5O kV. line contact with the telephone circuit resulted in the shattering of surge tubes and a shower of sparks which could have caused a major fire ; however, the hazard has now been removed by the fitting of temporary baffies to prevent a recurrence. The Bombay-Kerepeehi and Waikino-Aongatete 50 kV. telephone-lines were retransposed and overhauled. Telephone-line insulators were tested on the Napier- Waipawa line and faulty insulators replaced. Protective equipment was inspected at all stations and gas tubes installed. A new sub-cycle ringer was installed at Tuai Power-station. A temporary telephone-line was run from Kaitawa to the lake. Generally the standard of the communication system has improved over last year owing to the work done by the telephone gang on the lines in Taranaki and the regular testing. The system was very much disorganized by the storm of February, 1947. The supervisory control between Khandallah and Central Park Substations needed a fair amount of checking and adjustment. 5. Test Department With the transfer of the test laboratory at Auckland to more spacious accommodation and the arrival throughout the year of new testing-equipment, work there has been carried out under better conditions. Routine tests were carried out and the faulty operation of equipment was investigated as opportunity offered, but unfortunately the time available for these purposes was limited owing to the large amount of more urgent work required on the testing of new equipment, particularly at Karapiro prior to the power-station going into service, and at Arapuni where a new 24,000 kVA. generator and associated equipment were put into service. In addition, installation tests were carried out on two new 50/11 kY. substations at Maraetai and Waiuku ; a new 110/50 kY. and 50/11 kV. substation at Waihou ; new 11 kY. switchgear at Aongatete, Huntly, Matamata, Ngongotaha, Waihou, and Waikino ; and new transmission-lines. The pneumatic spring closing device for the Khandallah 11 kY. switchgear was developed in the test department at Palmerston North, and the workshop there was fully employed making up switch panels. 6. Plant and Motor-vehicles Plant. —Fifteen tractors are in use and a further 21 are on order. Four tractors are less than five years old, 8 from five to ten years old, and 3 are over ten years old. These tractors are used on transmission-line construction and maintenance and have been maintained in reasonably good mechanical condition. The workshops have operated for long hours and the workshop plant is becoming worn out. However, the release of surplus military stocks has eased the shortage of circular saws, guillotines, drilling-machines, bench grinders, and small tools. Vehicles. —Districts generally are operating on a minimum or less than requirements. All but a few vehicles are in a well-worn condition and require a good deal of attention, but the demand for vehicles is so urgent that they can be released for essential repairs only. The shortage of spare parts also makes the position acute.

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