STATE HYDRO WORKERS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26125, 30 May 1950, Page 6

STATE HYDRO WORKERS

PART IN RESTORATION OF POWER LONG AND HAZARDOUS WORK From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH. May 29. Men of the State Hydro-electric Department engaged in the restoration of the Coleridge power system over the Otira Gorge worked hard during the height of the week-end storm. They had to contend too with a horse’s harnss which became tangled in the power lines at Aicken’s, where it was blown by the strong wind. Several poles were washed out on both sides of the OtSra township and insulators were broken. The first fault occurred at 5.50 p.m. on Friday when the supply from Canterbury was lost. At 8.39 p.m. a further fault caused a total power failure at Otira. which up to then had been receiving power from the West Coast system, then generating at Arnold, Dobson, and aided by Kaniere Electric and Westland Power, Ltd.. Hokitika. This supply failed later and the State Hydro-electric Department had to supply Westland power consumers as well as its own. Leng hours were worked by the men between Friday and Sunday night in finding faults and repairing them. These men either cycled or carried their cycles in torrential rain over the slip-scarred road from Jackson’s to Otira. On Saturday afternoon good progress had been made with restoration work with one exception, and it was only the high floodwaters that stopped the men from making earlier restoration than was the case. Some 15 hours were worked by the men on Sunday on this major restoration work. Otira. Lake Coleridge, and Addington linesmen aided in the restoration of telephone communication to Lake Coleridge. The Canterbury linesmen made a hazardous journey to Arthur’s Pass in four-wheeled drive vehicles using the flooded Bealey river bed. About 5.30 on Saturday, West Coast linesmen completed the supply of power to Otira from Canterbury, enabling the Railway Department Tp work trains through the tunnel on Sunday. Temporary repairs to the remainder of the power lines were completed under most hazardous conditions and a 66,000 volt connexion was made with Canterbury on Sunday evening. The general manager of the State Hydro-electric Department, in a mes- I sage from the Wellington reporter of “The Press,” says: “They were magnificent. I am proud of them and all linesmen everywhere.” •

Radio Communications at Mount I Cook.— On behalf of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, the Post Office is arranging to procure and install emergency radio communication equipment in the Mount Cook region. The first installation will comprise a base station at the Hermitage and four hut stations in the vicinitv of Mount Cook— (F.0.0.R.)