STRONGER WIRES TO BE USED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21510, 27 June 1935, Page 10

STRONGER WIRES TO BE USED

REPLACING STORM DAMAGE STUDY OF OVERSEAS METHODS SUGGESTED "If we have more .storms like that they are going to be very upsetting to our lighting and power systems," said Mr G. G. Gardner, when the Waimairi County Council received last evening a report on the damage to poles and wires caused by the snowstorm. "Should we not look further afield and see what is done in other countries?" Mr C. Burrowes, the county electrical engineer, said that in Canada and other countries most of the reticulation was kept underground. The Municipal Electricity Department, he understood, had put high tension wires underground, but to out all wires underground would be far too costly, especially in a county like Waimairi. In future such snowstorms as the recent one would bo guarded against more carefully. Stronger wire would certainly be used in replacing the losses, Mr Burrowes said. The county haa strong poles, 'and out of nearly 4000 only eight had been broken. The council received a long report from Mr Burrowes on the damage suffered during the storm. He stated that the Fondalton and Burwood districts were the only parts of the county which escaped the full force of the storm. He estimated that to restore the lines to their original good order, including replacements of wire, would cost nearly £IOOO. Mr Burrowes complimented the linesmen on their work. Each man worked day and night, with only half an hour free to have hot tea. The council expressed appreciation of the work of Mr Burrowes and his staff and decided to make suitable recognition of their service 4. The purchase of 14 miles of bare copper cable to replace cable damaged during the storm was approved, at a cosit of £l9O lis Bd.