DUNEDIN IN DARKNESS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25935, 15 October 1949, Page 6

DUNEDIN IN DARKNESS

Potver Failure At Substation CONFUSION IN CITY’ SHOPS (New Zealand Press Association.) DUNEDIN, October 14. Trams were stopped, streets plunged into darkness, shoppers throughout the city thrown into confusion, and thousands of other citizens inconvenienced in a variety of ways for a period..from 8.20 p.m. to-day because of a break in the electric power. Many districts, particularly the hill suburbs in the north end, and St. Kilda and ,St. Clair, were badly affected. The break was one of the most serious experienced for a long time, and many centres as far south as Invercargill suffered. Northern centres were apparently not affected. The first indication that most citizens had that there was going to. be a major black-out was a sudden flickering of lights and the breaking off into incoherence of their radio sets. In some of the more fortunate sections of the city this was the full extent of the trouble, light and power being restored almost immediately. City streets were thronged with the usual Friday night shopping crowds at the time. Many shops affected were still filled with customers, and there was considerable confusion until torches and candles, kept for such an emergency as this, were forthcoming. To add to the general -confusion in the streets, the sky was deeply clouded. It was fortunate for those at a distance from home that the hold-up of the tramways was only of a temporary nature, and cars and buses were soon crowded to capacity. However, even when they reached their homes most people found conditions no more inviting. In many instances no light or heat was available until a late hour. The Dunedin Hospital was plunged into darkness, and the outside power was not restored for about half an hour. In the meantime the auxiliary power plant was set in motion, but naturally there was some delay before this could- be done. Patients suffered some inconvenience.

It was stated by an unofficial source that the trouble was caused by a “blow out’’ at the Half-Way Bush substation. and that, there had been of necessity some delay in finding the cause of it. All the information vouchsafed to the press was that “We

are too busy.’’ Wherever the trouble started, it was soon evident that the Government power from various hydro supplies had been cut off and that as far as the city was concerned it was forced to use the poy/cr generated at Waipon. This power could only be brought on gradually, but as far as possible an attempt was made to give preference to the most essential services.