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BREAKDOWN AT COLERIDGE

Fault in Main Switch Gear POWER PARTLY RESTORED Extra Load Taken By Waitaki Station Power supply from the Lake Coleridge hydro-electric Nation ceased yesterday afternoon at 2.35 when a serious fault developed in the main switch gear. The load, then at its peak, was switched on to the Waitaki station, which, with generators of only 15,000 kilowatts, was unable to cope fully with the demand. Christchurch was in short supply until 6.15 p.m., by which time Lake Coleridge, brought partly into operation at 4.3 p.m., was developing 9000 kilowatts. Hopes are held that further temporary repairs at Lake Coleridge to provide a bigger supply will be made to-day. The Waitaki and Lake Coleridge stations now run in parallel, and when the breakdown occurred there was a sudden black-out of all ,lights and an almost immediate return to half-power, as the Waitaki powerhouse automatically took over the extra loading. With. Lake Coleridge failing at a time of peak loading in Christchurch, all demands were unable to be met from Waitaki, aid the lowered voltage caused all lifts, heavily-powered plants, and lighting on direct current circuits in the city to be thrown out of operation, while all lights were weak. Four Generators Working The fault in the bus bars of the iron-clad switch gear at Lake Coleridge damaged the main switch, but sufficient repairs were made within one hour and a half to enable four of the generators to be connected up and to carry a light load. As soon as the breakdown occurred. Mr R. G. Mac Gibbon, District Electrical Engineer for the Public Works Department, and other engineers left Christchurch for Lake Coleridge, and when communicated with by “The Press” by telephone at the powerhouse shortly after 7 p.m., Mr Mac Gibbon said that it was hoped that temporary repairs to the switch gear would be made by today. The permanent repairs would take some time. Lyttelton Trains Disorganised The city trams were delayed a few minutes only, and when * the power was very light, arrangements were made at 3 o’clock to put the steam plant at Palsgrave street into action. Before steam could be fully developed, the Lake Coleridge supply was partly restored, and the steam plant was not brought into use. One long transport delay occurred, the 2.10 p.m. train from Christchurch to Lyttelton being stranded near Woolston. The running was taken up by a steam locomotive, which left Christchurch at 3 o’clock and pushed the electrically hauled train through to Lyttelton. The service was maintained with steam, locomotives until 6.30 when the electric trains resumed their running. The time-table, however. was disorganised. Picture Screenings Abandoned The breakdown of the power supply seriously affected the picture theatres that had afternoon sessions only. The two theatres, "the Grand and the ✓Liberty, which screen continuously, were forced to suspend screenings for one hour and a half, and the Crystal Palace was the only theatre able, because of the-lower output of its projecting and sound plant, to resume its afternoon programme quickly. In all the other theatres, the afternoon sessions werj abandoned, the patrons being given the alternatives of a refund of the admission charges or passes to admit them to later sessions. All theatres held their evening sessions. ' Broadcasting and Lights The broadcasting transmissions from Station 3YA were maintained. As soon as the regular power supply broke down, the emergency power plant, driven by an oil engine, was brought into operation, and the station continued with its scheduled programme, although the transmission was made at a low power. The subsidiary station, 3YL, was off the air part of the afternoon and resumed its broadcast shortly after 6 o’clock. An appeal to minimise the use of street lights was made by the Electrical Department of the Public Work* Department to the local bodies in the vicinity of Christchurch, and the switching on of the street lights was delayed. The streets in the Cashmere riding of the Heathcote County Council were in darkness until 7.45 p.m. An eerie place throughout the heavily overcast afternoon was the Government Buildings at the corner of Cathedral square and Worcester street. The buildings, which are connected with direct-current supply, were without lights, and candles were used in many offices to supply illumination while. the messengers stood at the stairs and directed torch light on the steps. Other buildings in the city on the direct-current circuit were also without light until Lake Coleridge power was restored, and even then the lights were dim. All electrically synchronised clocks became unreliable as time recorders. The Chief Post Office clock was one which ceased to function, and later in the evening was liable to mislead gravely any person who accepted its lime.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19380623.2.41

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 10

Word Count
785

BREAKDOWN AT COLERIDGE Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 10

BREAKDOWN AT COLERIDGE Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 10