POWER OFF!

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 36, 11 February 1920, Page 5

POWER OFF!

ELECTRIC CURRENT ON STRIKE A STOP-WOBK HOUR. A sudden stoppage was put to industry early this afternoon in thoee Auckland establishments which depend for power on the City Council's electric eupply. A little after half-past twelve electric motors, lifts, and every other variety of machinery that relies on city sold power to keep the wheels revolving teased whizzing, while lights in back iloor offices, dark restaurant corners, jand other places where the ens needs assistance, even at this time of the year, incontinently went out. As most of the city manufacturing premises were enjoying the midday rest at the time, the cut-off was not immediately noticed in these hives of industry, but in offices, particularly of the basement variety, and also in lifts, the deprivation brought things up with a jerk. A number of lifts were suspended with passengers in mid-air, or rather between floors, ■with their unwilling loads, and opinions in many cases were painful and free among the victims. Although a moment's reflection would satisfy any reasoning being that coal shortage could have nothing to do with the sudden cut off of electric power in the middle of the day, the wings of rumour instantly unfolded to spread the absurd story round that the was to be traced to the short coal supply, and a large number of gaping listeners appeared to give credence to it. The real reason for the failure of current was a short circuit in one of the connecting boxes at the corner of Albert and Swanson Streets, cuttin? off, for the time being, all users of Tight and power in what is called the inner circle of the eitv, comprising the business basin of which Queen Street is Ircmghlv the centre. Mr. Wyllie and hie staff lo3t no time in ■locating the source of trouble, and within an hour of the dislocation rtho power was on again, greatly to the relief of some who had been held up in suspended lifts, and of the occupants of [basement premises. ——____— —.