POWER LINE BROKEN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25550, 19 July 1948, Page 6

POWER LINE BROKEN

MANY PARTS OF NORTH ISLAND AFFECTED BULLET BLAMED FOR DAMAGE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 18. In the opinion of linesmen who repaired a snapped 110,000-volt power transmission line five miles south of the Arapuni electric-power station today, the break was caused by a nickelcoated bullet. The break caused power failures throughout the North Island south of Ongarue for up to two hours, from about 11 a.m. Linesmen found one of the two . 110,000-volt heavy copper conductors which run from Arapuni to Ongarue broken and lying on the ground midway between two pylons. Each of the broken ends showed the markings of nickel, such as might have come from a nickel-coated bullet. About 11.2 a.m., two oil circuit breakers of the Arapuni-Ongarue transmission lines threw out. One of the lines showed a fault. At the same time, oil circuit breakers on the WaikaremoanaWoodville transmission lines threw out, and also those of two- generators at the Tuai power station. The general manager of the State Hydro-electric Department, Mr A. E. Davenport, giving this information tonight, said the breaking of all these circuits threw the whole of the load from districts south of Ongarue on the Mangahao station, which was unable to carry it and had to be “cleared” from the circuit. At the same time', communication between various stations became very difficult. Radio circuits failed, and telephones became extremely bad. The throwing out of the Woodville and Tuai circuits indicated, trouble at Tuai. That had to be investigated before those circuits could be restored. Attempts were made to restore power from Arapuni on one good line, but they were defeated by the load being too heavy, throwing out the circuit again. It was not until power was available from Waikaremoana at 12.45 p.m. that conditions became reasonably stable. Mr Davenport said the department could not at present explain the tripping of switches at Woodville. It was a most regrettable happening, for without it there would have been no interruption of power. The broken Arapuni line was restored at 5.40 p.m. , In Wellington, the periods of power failure varied in different districts, but were on an average about one hour and a quarter. Trams stopped running, and many midday meals were delayed. Two trips each way of the electric units on the Johnsonville railway line were cancelled, and buses were substituted.