POWER STOPPAGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 137, 12 June 1930, Page 8

POWER STOPPAGES.

, TROUBLE LAST NIGHT. MANY SERVICES ArFECTED. CANDLES IN COMMISSION. i Unavoidable inconvenience was caused power consumers in most parts of the city and suburbs last evening as the result of unexpected difficulties being experienced with the steam plant at King's wharf, after it had taken over the responsibilities of Arapuni. Some of the circuits were more greatly affected than others, and candles and other means of .lighting were resorted to to provide illumination in thousands of. suburban homes. In the business area, owing to the consideration of the Auckland Power Board officials, little inconvenience was caused until after shops and offices had been cleared. Transport was held up periodically between 5.11 and 5.49 p.m., but little dislocation was occasioned. A few suburban theatres experienced trouble about 8 o'clock. .

Discovery of Marine Growth

"After the successful transference of the load from Arapuni to King's wharf at 4.15 o'clock, the vacuum in two generating sets' at the latter station was found to be very poor, owing to marine growth, collected during the six months in which the plant has been lying idle, being drawn into the condensers. This necessitated several feeders being "cut out" alternately for periods of several minutes to distribute the trouble. Although the Power Eo£rd staff worked feverishly all last night in endeavoun> to rectify the defect, it succeeded only in completing half the work, and the balance of the cleaning out will have to be carried out to-night.

"We did not get a fair run last night," said Mr. R. H. Bartley, general manager of the board, "but the staff at King's wharf has made up its mind that it is going to get the best possible results out of the station. With , that spirit prevailing X feel that we are going to get the very best out of it. Everything is working smoothly this morning.'

The policy of the! Auckland Electric, Power Board maintaining its huge stand-by plant at King's wharf at considerable expense, has been justified by events. The difficulties with which the board are now faced, however, could not have been experienced at a more inconvenient time of the year, for, the heaviest demands on power supplies in the Auckland provincial district an: made during the months of June,, July and August. With proposals for the. repairing of damage at , Arapuni more or less in the air, the board is likely to have difficulty in framing a policy forVthe future. So far as the extensions to which it is committed under its recent loan poll are concerned, it is admitted ;in official circles that in the meantime;thcy will have to be proceeded with. > '