POWER FOR OTIRA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28473, 31 December 1957, Page 10

POWER FOR OTIRA

Emergency Lines Being Erected

Emergency power lines are being installed from Lake Coleridge across country t- Arthur’s Pass and through the tunnel to Otira by the State Hydro-electric Department and power should be available next Wednesday. Dobson and Arahura may be without electricity for a week after that. Extra staff from Addington have been taken to. Arthur’s Pass and Otira to assist in the work Equipment at the Otira substatioh is being dismantled, cleaned of silt and water, reassembled and tested A portable generating set has been sent to Otira to provide power for testing and for lighting at night. The District Engineer (Mr W. H. Gregory) said last evening it was fortunate that no equipment in the substation had burnt out. Automatic control gear would need overhauling but manual control would be used for the next few weeks.

‘‘Our chaps are doing a wonderful job.” Mr Gregory said. “The ordinary person has no idea of the magnitude of the task they have “On top of everything else, we have had to renew gland packings on turbines at the Arnold river station. It never rains but it pours.” Mr Gregory said wearily. Flooded River Lines to Dobson and Arahura will have to be taken over the Teremakau river which is in high flood. Until the level of the water drops, little can be done. Piles will have to be driven first and the poles attached to them. A heavy bulldozer had been sent from Ashburton to Otira for use on protective works but it had not arrived last evening and was reported to be still a* the Still water Junction railway yards. Mr Gregory paid tribute to the work of the engineer in charge of the reconstruction (Mr R. S. Grant) and the transmission lines foreman for the West Coast (Mr West).