D—4

Regular inspections were made in all districts of the survey and construction work feeing carried out. Despite interruptions due to material and man-power shortages excellent progress has been made by the districts concerned in the construction of the major work in hand, the Maraetai - Whakamaru - Ota'huhu 220 kV. circuit No. 1. Foundation work was almost completed, 55 per cent, of the towers were erected, and arrangements made for an early start on the stringing of the heavy conductors. The usual investigations of wire-stringing tension for various loading conditions, insulator deflections, and mechanical loading of supports for various lines were continued, and charts supplied for field use. Due to increasing difficulty in securing supplies of Australian hardwood poles and crossarms, and following a conference where delegates from the New Zealand Forest Service, various other Government Departments, and local bodies met the Chief Inspector of the New South Wales Forestry Commission and a number of Australian timber suppliers, the specifications for these items were relaxed to permit the supply of a number of species previously excluded. There has been a marked improvement in the supply of these items. Except for the supply of pole hardware which has deteriorated to an alarming extent, all transmission-line material is less difficult to obtain. REGULATIONS, LINE INSPECTION, ETC. The electric lines and works of sixty-eight Electrical Supply Authorities were inspected. An inspector visited the Chatham Islands where plant and installations were inspected for the first time. The Otago Central Electric-power Board and the Taupo Town Board were granted licences authorizing them to use water from the Fraser and the Hinemaiai Rivers respectively for the purpose of generating electricity. The purchase by the Buller Electric-power Board of the Westport Borough Council's electrical undertaking was confirmed by Order in Council. The Marlborough Electric-power Board was granted a licence authorizing it to erect and use electric lines in the Borough of Picton, and to change over from D.C.to A.C. supply. The Auckland Electric-power Board was granted a licence authorizing it to lay a submarine cable in the Hauraki Gulf for the purpose of supplying certain islands. Boundary adjustments between the North Auckland Electric-power Board and the Whangarei Borough Council and between the King-Country Electric-power Board and the Taumarunui Borough Council were confirmed by Order in Council. The following licences and permits to use water for the purpose of generating electricity and/or to erect and use electric lines were issued, assigned, or revoked : Use of water-power— Supply Private Licences — Authorities. Individuals. Issued .. .. .. .. .. 3 Assigned .. .. .. .. .. 3 Revoked .. .. .. .. .. 5 Permits — Issued .. .. .. .. .. 2 Revoked .. .. .. .. .. 1 Grants to drive machinery : Revoked .. .. 1 Electric lines — Licences — Issued .. .. .. .. 11 6 Revoked .. .. .. .. 2 Permits: Issued .. .. .. .. 1 Combined water-power and electric lines licences— Issued .. .. .. .. .. 22 Assigned .. .. .. .. .. 1 Revoked .. .. .. .. .. 6 Permits to carry out wiring-work in connection with private plants : Issued ~ ~ .. 270

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