13

H.—2

Extensive renovation-work is being carried out at the Postmaster Bath building, but progress is necessarily slow, as, on account of the strong fumes, the men can only work there intermittently. The completion of the Nurses' Home and Cottage Hospital has necessitated a complete rearrangement of the outbuildings in the Sanatorium yard, some of which have been demolished, while others have been re-erected on different sites. Some important alterations have been made in the internal arrangements of the staff quarters in the Sanatorium building, which ma.ke for convenience and efficiency in working. A Nurses' Home, providing sleeping-accommodation for seven nurses with two sitting-rooms, has been erected in the Sanatorium grounds at the corner of Hinemoa and Hinemaru Streets. Electrical. The year's record has been one of steady progress in this branch, which is now under the oversight of the Electrical Engineer (Mr. Beal), who has been transferred from the power-station at Okere, and who displays great keenness and enthusiasm for his work. At the commencement of the year continuous service (Sundays excepted) was started, and, with very few interruptions, this has been maintained throughout the year. The lighting supply was only interrupted twice (between sunset and midnight) during the year, and then only for about ten minutes on each occasion. The other stoppages occurred after either midnight, when no serious inconvenience was caused, or in the daytime. There has been an increase of fifty-six new consumers for lighting only, including a second picture-theatre, while twenty-six existing consumers have added to the lights originally installed in their premises. Most of these new connections have been in the outlying suburbs, and consequently entailed a considerable amount of reconstruction of the existing distribution mains. Now that the machines are running continuously we are in a position to cater for a " day loud," and quite an appreciable demand has set in for domestic (cooking, heating, &c.) and power supply. There are great possibilities for expansion in this direction when the low-tension distribution system within the inner town area is completed. In this connection it may be noted that the departmental laundry has practically all appliances driven by the electric motor installed. The drainage pumps, which hitherto have been driven by oil-engines, are now deriving their power from two 7j horse-power Westinghouse motors. This will effect a considerable' saving of oil, as the oil-engines will now be used for emergencies only. The power-station and staff dwellings at Okere have been painted. To minimize any damage by lightniug in the future a set of lightning-arrestors has been erected at Mourea. The Engineer's cottage at Okere was unfortunately destroyed by fire on the 29th September, 1912. To cope with the increased demand five new G.E. oil-transformers have been imported and erected, and it has been found necessary to order six additional ones. Five of these at present in use had to be repaired, after breaking down through lightning storms and overloading. When the distribution scheme is carried out some twenty of these transformers will be available for suburban extensions, and so enable us to cope with prospective demands. The breakdown of the transformers necessitated a rearrangement of other transformers and the supplying of adjacent parts of the town from the substation direct. This entailed a considerable amount of labour, which, owing to the scrap material which had to be used, is not of a permanent character. The iron H.T. wire supplying Whakarewarcwa, after being in use for two years and a half, has become useless through corrosion, and will be replaced with copper wire as soon as same arrives from England. During the year 100 B.T.H. meters were imported, and have now been installed. A further supply of 150 has been ordered. This is in pursuance of the decision to abolish the minimum charge. The immediate result of the installation of meters has been that, while the revenue from individual consumers under the fixed rate has been considerably reduced (in some cases 50 per cent.), the aggregate revenue has appreciably increased, and at the same time the use of the meters has checked the unlimited consumption of energy, and so enabled us to meet the whole of the additional demand this year with practically no additional output. It is interesting- to note that the highest demand on the plant—which is on Christmas Eve —for 1912 was 28 K.W. lower than on the corresponding night in 1911. The portable standard wattmeter for use in testing house service meters in situ has been received and is now in use. This apparatus enables us to check the accuracy of meters, and is a useful factor in settling disputes with consumers. An Ohmer testing set is also in use for the purpose of testing installation prior to connecting to mains, so as to ensure compliance with the fire underwriters' requirements. The supply of energy to the various departmental buildings and the efficiency of the electrical medical apparatus has been fully maintained throughout the year. I have pleasure in cordially acknowledging the willing and eificient assistance accorded me by the staff.