B—4

Outline drawings were made of the towers for the Nelson-West Coast line and a start made on the drawings of the specification for their supply. An aerial inspection was made of this line to determine the sections which should be built in steel towers and those which should be built in wood poles. Investigations were made into the types of structures to be installed to carry six 66 kV. circuits from the proposed new substation at Islington, Christchurch, four circuits to the proposed substation at Papanui, and two to North Canterbury. REGULATIONS, LINES INSPECTION, ETC. The King-country Electric-power Board commenced trading operations and the erection of its electric lines. The Manunui Town Board and part of the area' of supply of the Taumarunui Borough Council will now be in the King-country electric-power district. Four licences were issued to erect electric lines (2 to private persons, and 2 to Electricpower Boards for electric lines in extended areas of supply). Seven licences were issued to use water-power for the purpose of generating electricity (6 to private persons and 1 to an Electric-power Board). Four electric lines licences (private persons) were revoked. One permit was issued to use water-power for the purpose of generating electricity, and 1 permit was revoked (both with respect to private persons). Seven assignments of licences to use water-power for the purpose of generating electricity were effected (private persons). One hundred and fourteen permits to carry out electrical-wiring work in connection with private generating-plants were issued. The electric lines and works of 37 Electrical Supply Authorities were inspected. Sixty-two Electrical Supply Authorities gave notice of their intention to make extensions to their electric lines. The total number of extensions notified was 621. There were 5,345 broken wires reported and 401 broken poles reported by Authorities. The principal causes of the wires being broken were : trees 2,167 (40-5 per cent.) ; contact, 1,716 (32 per cent.) ;' gale, 456 (B*s per cent.); binder failure, 132 (2-5 per cent.) ; pole hit by vehicle, 107 (2 per cent.). The following table shows the number of electrical accidents reported for the year under review compared with the previous year :

36

Year ended 31st March, 1947. Year ended 31st March, 1946. Fatal. Non-fatal. Total. Fatal. STon-fatal. Total. Child (up to seven years inclusive) 2 3 5 .. 1 1 Commercial shops, offices, &e. 2 2 Domestic (hotels, boardinghouses, &c.) i 3 4 1 1 Electrical lineman l 5 6 2 8 10 Electrical worker (other than lineman) 2 4 6 1 6 7 Fireman . . General public I 3 "l 3 3 Industrial (factories, workshops, &c.) 1 1 i 1 Other trades *2 5 7 1 2 3 Other workers 2 , . 2 1 1 Painter , , i 1 Plumber . . Suicide . , Telephone lineman 2 2 *4 Welder Young person (over seven but not over fifteen 1 1 3 3 years) Total 16 27 43 6 27 33 Mechanical (fall from pole, &c.) 5 5 Stock 23 23 43 43