WIRES FUSE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8831, 6 May 1914, Page 2

WIRES FUSE.

A SERIES OF ACCIDENTS

(Per Presi; Association.)

AUCKLAND, May 5,

For a short ,time this afternoon some excitement aiid confusion prevailed in the city. A number of railway workr men were engaged on the telephone lines near the Newmarket Railway Station when a telephone wire came into contact with the wire carrying the high voltage of the city electrical powerhouse. The railway, telephone exchange wires' immediately fused, putting all the railway telephone, telegraph and tablet signalling systems out of operation for about 15 miles south of the icity. This disorganised the, tram services, but a pilot system was quickly established. A considerable amount of damage has apparently been done to the electrical systems and it will be some time before these are in proper order again.

When the wires fused a fire broke out in a box fixed on a pole in front of the Post Office, where the railway wires are gathered into a cable. This blazed fiercely and the alarm was sent from the Post Office, to the brigade station. The fire superintendent, thinking that the fire was in the Post Office, brought a motor engine into crowded Queen Street at 30 miles an hour. Just as,the motor was approaching the Wetlesley Street intersection, a tram car began to swing round the corner. The driver of the big 45-horse power motor, fearing a collision with the car, i/ued to cross to the other side of the street. He' failed, however, to clear the tramway standard in the centre of the street and struck the pole a violent blow. All the men were thrown off, the motor on to the street and fireman James Mackay was severely injured. He bow lies in the hospital in a serious condition. The other men had a miraculous escape. The motor was severely damaged. The tramway poles in the centre of Queen Street aro frequently referred to as a grave danger. j