105

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As regards electrically-driven milking-machines, the figures this year show a steady advance over those of previous years—viz., 1925, 3,581 ; 1926, 4,856 ; 1927, 6,738 ; 1928, 8,514 ; 1929, 10,161. The collection of these statistics was inaugurated in 1923, when the total number of electrically-driven machines was only 1,310. The increase in six years is thus 675 per cent., and, as there are still about 8,000 machines which are fuel- or water-driven, the work of conversion is a long way from completion, and the electric-supply authorities have still this additional load of approximately 10,000 h.p. in prospect and ready for canvassing as the reticulation extends farther into the outlying districts. ELECTRICAL SUPPLY AND WIRING REGULATIONS. The Electric Supply and Wiring Regulations, which were gazetted in 1927 with the intention of revising same after two years' trial, are now about to be revised, and all electric-supply authorities have been circularized for an expression of opinion and suggestions for the improvement of same as a result of their experience. The Advisory Committee has continued to meet regularly during the year to consider various questions submitted by the supply authorities in connection with interpretations of certain regulations. During the period from Ist April, 1928, to 30th June, 1929, the Committee was convened sixteen times, and gave answers to 26 questions in connection with the Electrical Supply Regulations and 211 questions in connection with the Electrical Wiring Regulations, in addition to adjudicating on numerous electrical accessories and appliances sent in for an expression of opinion. The proceedings of all these meetings have been carefully indexed for future reference when the work of revision commences, and will be made available to members of the Committee to aid them in redrafting any regulations which are at present considered to be ambiguous. The electric-supply authorities continue to evince a keen interest in seeing that the regulations are given effect to, and the work of administration of the regulations has been materially assisted by this co-operation of the electric-supply authorities. Amendments or additions to the following regulations were gazetted on 4th July, 1929 : — Electrical Supply: 46, 94, 106, 116, 189, and 205. Electrical Wiring: 66, 71, 76, 86, 90, 100, 133, 164, 179, 192, 200, 204, 223, 224, 225, 227, 228, 252, 281, Second Schedule Part 111, class (S) and class (T). INSPECTION OF ELECTRIC LINES. The periodic inspection of the electric lines throughout the Dominion has been maintained in conjunction with the inspections necessitated by the addition of new lines erected during the year. The following fifty-five supply authorities have made extensions to their electric lines during the year ending 31st March, 1929 : — Ashburton Power Board Poverty Bay Power Board Auckland Power Board Riccarton Borough Council Banks Peninsula Power Board Rotorua (Tourist Department) Bluff Borough Council South Canterbury Power Board Cambridge Power Board Southland Power Board Central Hawke's Bay Power Board Springs-Ellesmere Power Board Central Power Board Stratford Borough Council Christchurch City Council Taihape Borough Council Dannevirke Power Board Taranaki Power Board Dunedin City Council Tararua Power Board Franklin Power Board Taumarunui Borough Council Grey Power Board Tauranga Borough Council Hamilton Borough Council Te Aroha Borough Council Hastings Borough Council Te Awamutu Power Board Hawke's Bay Power Board Te Puke Town Board Horowhenua Power Board Thames Valley Power Board Hutt Valley Power Board Timaru Borough Council Invercargill Borough Council Waimairi County Council Malvern Power Board Wairarapa Power Board Manawatu-Oroua Power Board Wairoa Borough Council Marlborough Power Board Wairoa Power Board Napier Borough Council Waitaki Power Board North Canterbury Power Board W'aitemata Power Board Nelson City Council Waitomo Power Board New Plymouth Borough Council Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Board Otago Central Power Board Wellington City Council Palmerston North Borough Council Whangarei Borough Council. Patea Borough Council The following is a list of the various electric-supply authorities and companies whose lines have been inspected during the past year :— Power Boards (31). Ashburton Hutt Valley Poverty Bay Thames Valley Banks Peninsula Malvern South Canterbury Wairarapa Central Manawatu-Oroua Springs-Ellesmere Wairoa Central Hawke's Bay Marlborough Taranaki Waitaki Dannevirke North Canterbury Tararua Waitemata Grey Opunake Tauranga Waitomo Hawke's Bay Otago Te Awamutu Wanganui-Rangitikei. Horowhenua Otago Central Teviot

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