D.—l.

(b) Substations. The Addington switch-gear has functioned satisfactorily during the year. Routine oil filtering and maintenance-work has been carried out at all substations during the year. An 11 Kv. voltage regulator at Ashburton which broke down on 11th June, was repaired and replaced in service. (c) Transmission-lines. There were five total interruptions to the main supply during the year, totalling 22| minutes, the most serious interruption being one of ten minutes on 10th February, following trouble on the Municipal Electricity Department's underground cables in Christchurch City. During the year the inspection and replacement of poles, tree-cutting, and clearing gorse, &c., was continued, a total of 164- poles being replaced. The annual insulator testing was completed and a total of 93,812 insulators were tested, of which 525 were defective. The following work under live-line methods was done during the year : 3 crossarms changed, 2 binders changed, 102 insulators changed, and 4 poles changed. An overhaul of the Darfield feeder for the Railway Department and the Malvern Power Board was made and a special overhaul of the Tramway and Montreal Street feeders was necessitated by the fault on 10th February, which caused considerable damage to these lines and terminal equipment. 5. Rainfall and Lake Level. Maximum river flow at Waitaki for year ending 31st March, 32,000 cusecs (12th October). Minimum river flow at Waitaki for year ending 31st March, 4,200 cusecs (29th June). Lake Coleridge : Rainfall for the year was 40-69 in. Harper : Rainfall for the year was 55-62 in. Waitaki : Rainfall for the year was 17-54 in. Lake Coleridge : Lake level at 31st March was 1671-67 ft. B. INVERCARGILL DISTRICT. A poll of the ratepayers having carried a proposal that the Southland Electric-power Board's undertaking be acquired by the Crown, in pursuance and exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 8 of the Southland Electric-power Supply Act, 1936, His Excellency the Governor-General, by Order in Council dated the 9th day of October, 1936, declared that on the 13th day of October, 1936, " the Southland Electric-power District shall be abolished and the Southland Electric-power Board dissolved." On the date so fixed the assets of the Board became vested in His Majesty the King, the liabilities and engagements of the Board became liabilities and engagements of the Crown, and the undertaking theretofore carried on by the Board became an undertaking carried on by the Minister of Public Works. 1. Capital Outlay. The capital outlay at 31st March was £1,649,457, of which assets to the value of £3,939 were not in operation. 2. Finance. The total revenue for the period 13th October, 1936, to 31st March, 1937, was £69,194, including a sum of £137, being additional charges in connection with rates levied by the former Southland Electric-power Board. Working expenses for the period were £20,554, including £182 for commission for collecting rates, allowances, and amounts written off. The interest charge was £35,514. After providing an amount of £32,622 for the Depreciation Reserve there was a net loss for the period of £19,496. No funds were available for sinking fund this year, the contribution being in arrears to the amount of £16,495. General reserves amounting to £461,455 Bs. 7d. appearing in the final balance-sheet of the Board were partly utilized in writing down assets considered to be fictitious, made up of — Interest and sinking fund during construction .. .. .. 168,347 310 Exchange expenditure . • • • • • • • .. 49, 500 0 0 Surveys and preliminary expenses .. .. .. •• 11,249 1 8 Proportion of expenditure in regard to financing consumers prior to revenue earnings .. .. .. •• •• 15,582 14 5 Plant, tools, &c. .. •• •• •• 19,817 12 0 Obsolescent stocks .. .. •• •• 7,646 14 6 £272,143 6 5 The balance of £189,312 2s. 2d. was carried forward and is to be utilized next year to write off the following : — £ s. d.. Surveys and preliminary expenses and cost of raising loans (original) 92,361 0 9 Interest and sinking fund during construction .. .. .. 14,410 9 2 Obsolescent capital assets .. .. •• 82,540 12 3 £189,312 22

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