POWER FAILURE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 236, 17 July 1937, Page 6

POWER FAILURE.

“BLACK-OUT” LAST EVENING.

EASTERN PORTION OF THOROUGH

For an hour last evening a large section of the east side of the Borough was in darkness, the electric lights failing at a few minutes to seven and being restored shortly before 8 o’clock. Shops from Havelock Street north were in darkness at one of the busiest periods of the evening, and the Post Office building was also included, and great inconvenience was occasioned there. The exchange operators had an unenviable hour trying to maintain the efficiency of the system with their boards only poorly lighted by candles hurriedly pressed into service. In the mail room candle light was also employed, and work was delayed there, while the public office staff worked under difficulties with candles.

Shops in the Triangle took on an unusual appearance under the light of candles and lamps. One shopkeeper supplied the rear portions of his premises with light by directing his car lamps in the back door. The street lights were on all the time, and in some of the residential blocks about Grey Street houses were in darkness, while others nearby had light, they being on a different circuit.

The light failed without even a preliminary warning flicker, remained out for a few minutes, and then for several minutes gave out the faintest gliminci as the lamps glowed red. This also ceased, and for about three-quarters of an hour there was a total block-out.

There has been a good deal of trouble with the house-lighting circuit in the same area of late. Two weeks ago the Post Office and Majestic Theatre were the chief sufferers when the lights failed about the same hour on a Saturday evening. The start of the programme at the Majestic Theatre last evening was delayed slightly because of the power failure.