GREY DISTRICT IN DARKNESS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22111, 5 June 1937, Page 14

GREY DISTRICT IN DARKNESS

* Power Failure Caused By Gale CONFUSION IN SHOPS AND THEATRES [THE PRESS Special Service.] GREYMOUTH, June 4. Through the breaking down of two 11,000volt lines and a short circuit in the low-tension circuit in Greymouth, all places in the Grey Electric Power Board district, extending from Ikamatua in the north to Teremakau in the south, were without power from 8.30 to-night. In some districts supply was available again soon after 9 o’clock, but in others it was not on by midnight, and it was not known when power would be available. An extremely strong gale, which was accompanied by occasional heavy showers, is thought to have caused the damage. When the lights went , out, few persons thought they would be without power for long, as several times during the last few days the power supply has been off for a few minutes. This has been caused by the extremely heavy load on the system, overtaxing the capacity of the plant at Kaimata. Shopping Interrupted Several times the light flickered on in Greymouth before 9 o’clock, but after that the central part of the town was plunged in darkness. . , , , , As it was late shopping night, shopkeepers found the situation extremely awkward, and improvised lights of various kinds were used. The two picture theatres could not continue their programmes. At the Opera House, it was thought that the power breakdown was only temporary, and an announcement was made that the programme would be continued in 15 minutes. Community singing was held until 9.15 when it was announced that the supply would not be available until midnight. The patrons were then given their money back or free tickets. Lighting Fluctuates At the Regent Theatre all lights went out at 8.30, but about 9.15 the lights went on again, but not the power for the generating plant. About 9.45 the power went off in the theatre, but in the sweets shop attached to it both lighting and heating power was again on. Lights in Cobden, Blaketown, and the south end of the town came on at different times from 9 o’clock onwards, but at midnight the central part of the town was still in darkness. By 11.30, lights had been restored at Ikamatua, but Barrytown was still without power. There was no power to operate the Creed machines at the telegraph office, but otherwise there was no trouble with the telegraph or telephone services. The lights in the central part of the town went on again at 12.40 a.m.